Shivappa seeks PM8217;s intervention on expulsion issue

BANGALORE, OCT 29: B B Shivappa, a senior BJP leader who has been suspended from the party for alleged 8220;anti-party activities and indiscipline8221;, today sought PM A B Vajpayee8217;s intervention on the issue and charged that there was an 8220;ulterior motive to engineer8221; his expulsion.

Shivappa, who was suspended by the Karnataka state leadership following the violence in last Sunday8217;s election to choose the BJP legislature party leader, for which he was also a contender, said his supporters did not indulge in 8220;any form of violence8221;. He said the report submitted by the party state unit president B S Yediyurappa on the happenings was prepared with a 8220;prejudiced mind, is partisan in nature, false in content and has a definite ulterior motive to engineer my expulsion from the party8221;.

Shivappa was suspended after his supporters allegedly went on the rampage when he lost to Jagadish Shettar in the election. Shivappa said there were a few hundred 8220;suspicious looking characters8221; around the party officeallegedly hired by a few party leaders to take advantage of the situation during the election to tarnish his image and credibility.

He said he had certain reservations against a few leaders in the state unit on their style of functioning but he had no ill-will towards anybody personally nor had he differences with the party8217;s ideology, policy, philosophy and programmes.

Shivappa, however, has denied his involvement in the violence.