The rift between BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa reached a flashpoint on Thursday with the former chief minister warning that decisive action will be taken against those associating themselves with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.

Yeddyurappa also ensured that Eshwarappa was kept out of a meeting of party MLCs convened apparently to discuss preparations for the bypolls to the South-East Teachers’ constituency scheduled to be held on February 3. A source in the party said no meeting was scheduled for Thursday, but Yeddyurappa decided in the morning that all MLCs will meet.

The party office secretary is said to have called the MLCs and told them to attend the meeting, but Eshwarappa, an MLC and also the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, was not invited. Eshwarappa has been associating himself with the Brigade,  much to the chagrin of Yeddyurappa. Another source said it was Yeddyurappa’s way of hitting out at Eshwarappa for making caustic remarks against him in the media on Wednesday.  Eshwarappa had made sarcastic remarks against Yeddyurappa for suspending his supporter and former Bengaluru mayor Venkatesh Murthy for anti-party activities. Murthy, too, had associated himself with the Brigade.

Eventually, a text message was sent to Eshwarappa informing him about the meeting in the afternoon and it was quite evident that he would not be able to make it to Bengaluru as he was in Sringeri.

Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa told reporters that there was no formal complaint against Eshwarappa but the central leadership of the party is keeping a close tab on the developments. “The BJP has nothing to do with the Brigade. I advise all party workers and functionaries to keep away from the forum. The central leadership has issued directions to this effect. They (central leadership) will take decisive action at the appropriate time,” he said.

A senior BJP functionary told DH in New Delhi that Yeddyurappa last week came to the national capital and requested the party top brass to take action against Eshwarappa.

As many as 15 of the 25 MLCs attended the meeting but the Eshwarappa issue was not discussed, a source said. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, Eshwarappa said he could not attend the meeting as he was informed late about it.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday suspended Avyanna S Myageri, the vice president of the OBC morcha of the party. Myageri, a close associate of Eshwarappa, has identified himself with Brigade.