Ballari BJP rebels over appointment of urban development chairman

Ballari: The powerplay within the Ballari BJP district unit on Tuesday gave the party a serious scare ahead of the crucial Vijayapura assembly byelection on December 5, with 48 senior district leaders threatening to resign.
The leaders were protesting chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s decision to appoint Dammur Shekar, the party youth wing president and a close aide of the Ballari Reddy brothers, as the new Ballari Urban Development Authority (BUDA) chairman.
Within hours of three senior leaders resigning, Yediyurappa rescinded Shekar’s appointment. Shekar was appointed last Saturday and had assumed office on Monday. Several leaders from the district including Somashekar Reddy attended a ceremony where he took charge.
Within hours of Shekar taking charge, BJP district president Chennabasavanagouda tendered his resignation. “I did not oppose Sheker’s appointment per se, but the manner in which the party leadership decided to appoint him,” said the district president.
Three other senior district leaders also submitted their resignations. The trio claimed they had the support of 48 other leaders.
However, Somashekar told TOI Shekar’s appointment was with the intent of developing the city and that all differences will be ironed out.