The BJP president asked members to follow the high standards set by leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.
In a veiled reference to BS Yeddyurappa, who is facing land scam charges in party-ruled Karnataka, BJP president Nitin Gadkari today asked "chief ministers, leaders and party workers" not to do anything which will spoil the name of the organisation.
Though Gadkari did not name Karnataka chief minister Yeddyurappa in his presidential address to the BJP National Executive here, he asked the members to follow the high standards set by leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.
"Our party has a legacy. I appeal to our Chief Ministers, leaders and party workers not to do anything which would spoil the name of the party or make anybody point a finger at us," a senior BJP leader said, quoting Gadkari.
Yeddyurappa was present during Gadkari's address at the meet which was not open to the media.
Dwelling further on the issue of corruption, Gadkari said, "We in the BJP are aware of the magnitude of the issue of corruption.
"In order to fight corruption, what is essentially required is the strong political will to overcome this crisis...We believe that we all have to strive to have a system that encourages people to observe the right ethical values in place. Through innovative and result oriented measures, we have to work towards this end."
When Yeddyurappa faced opposition charges of making out-of-turn land allotments to his sons and daughter, the BJP top brass had reportedly given him time till elections to local bodies in Karnataka were over.
Gadkari had feebly defended the beleaguered chief minister, saying his actions may be immoral but not illegal while senior leader LK Advani had maintained that the party central leadership was "dealing with the issue and was confident it will deal with it".
Though there were no clear indications about whether Yeddyurappa will have to go now that the local bodies elections are over, party leaders said Gadkari's words may be a pointer of the things to come.
Gadkari also asked the party leadership to stop infighting as this harms the interest of the party.
"If we are united then the future is good. If you are divided then we will not get success. If we leave aside infighting and unitedly contest elections then we will get success," Gadkari said, according to party sources.
Though the earlier infighting -- in which some leaders even settled their differences through leaks in the media --has ceased, Gadkari is apparently worried about senior leaders speaking in different voices on the JPC issue.
He had to personally discuss the issue with PAC chairperson MM Joshi and request him to issue a statement supporting JPC to clear the air.
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