BJP veteran lK Advani has reiterated that he was distressed to note that people were “somewhat disillusioned” with his party even though their mood was against the ruling Congress. Having articulated the idea of NDA-plus on at least two occasions, the latest at BJP’s conclave here this month, the BJP veteran also repeated that he was disappointed with the way his party handled the Karnataka affairs after corruption charges were leveled against former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.
“The party is expected to have zero tolerance towards corruption. The manner in which we actually wrangled in Karnataka disappointed me,” Advani said in an interview to newsmagazine The Week. Yeddyurappa, whose Government was the first by the BJP in any southern State, was finally forced to quit as Chief Minister soon after the allegations against him surfaced.
Though Advani did not elaborate more on the Karnataka episode, his statement underlined the disagreement he shared with the then leadership of the party over the manner in which Yeddyurappa case was handled. The former CM has now floated an outfit of his own.
Referring to the BJP Conclave held here last week, Advani said he had “become very emotional” and was “sad” at the public disillusionment with his party. At the same time, the BJP veteran said he was “optimistic” about the party’s future.