Yeddy, infighting cost BJP dearly: BJP top brass

New Delhi: Several leaders among the BJP top brass on conceded the decision to remove BS Yeddyurappa from the chief minister`s post and his subsequent decision to form his own party has been a major contributor, along with infighting, to their rout in Karnataka assembly poll.

The BJP Parliamentary Board met here this evening to discuss the reasons for the party`s massive defeat in the southern state. BJP`s first government in the South not only failed to retain power but was reeduced from 110 seats in the last assembly elections in 2007 to 40 seats this time. While most leaders acknowledge that Yeddyurappa had his revenge in these elections by ensuring that BJP puts up a dismal performance, those who had insisted on the former chief minister`s ouster from the top post were firm that there cannot be a compromise in the fight against corruption. Yeddyurappa had to step down in July, 2011 after the Karnataka Lokayukta indicted him in a land graft case. He finally quit BJP in November, 2012 and formed KJP. "Division of our votebase has affected us as also the image of a lack of unity within the party in Karnataka. Also, the fact that some of our leaders walked out of the party and some formed another party," BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said. Naidu said the party will do a thorough analysis and take corrective steps. "We need to draw lessons and review the election results," Naidu said. However, BJP was quick to rubbish claims of a victorious Congress that the results depict the mood of the nation. "State issues dominated these elections. It would be unfair and illogical to say this reflects the mood of the nation," Naidu said. He claimed if Congress is arguing that corruption was a big issue in these elections, then it will be "washed out" in the Lok Sabha polls as it is plagued by a series of scams. BJP also dismissed Congress` contention that it had won due to the efforts of Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul. "If credit for the win goes to them, then the discredit also goes to them. They could not win in seven of the nine earlier elections. It is childish to make such a claim," Naidu said. PTI