Eshwarappa to continue as BJP chief in State

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked K S Eshwarappa to continue as president of the party’s Karnataka unit and as the deputy chief minister till the completion of Assembly elections next year.

Eshwarappa, along with MPs Prahlad Joshi and Nalin Kumar Kateel, held an hour-long meeting with BJP national president Nitin Gadkari Monday night.

The party would go for poll under the leadership of Eshwarppa and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, he is learnt to have said. Gadkari also advised Joshi and Kateel to extend all help to Eshwarappa to strengthen the party in the State.

Advising Eshwarappa to spend more time for party activities, Gadkari was also learnt to have directed him to prepare a plan for the State tour without delay.

 Expressing confidence in the Eshwarappa-Shettar combination, Gadkari informed the State leaders not to heed the blackmail tactics of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.

“I hope Yeddyurappa will not take hasty decision of quitting the party. If he wants to quit nobody will prevent him from doing so,” Gadkari reportedly said.