JOIN USBJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, who is facing increasing opposition within the party, is said to be softening his stance on his bete noire K S Eshwarappa.
According to sources close to Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister is ready to offer the olive branch to Eshwarappa. Yeddyurappa is said to have agreed to give an assurance to Eshwarappa that he will be given the ‘B’ form to contest from the constituency of his choice – Shivamogga – during the 2018 Assembly elections.
Besides, BJP Shivamogga district president Rudre Gowda, who had contested against Eshwarappa on a KJP ticket in the 2013 Assembly elections, will be kept out of the electoral race. Gowda will be nominated to the Upper House. Eshwarappa, during the past few months, has been expressing his apprehension in private that Yeddyurappa would deny him an opportunity to contest from Shivamogga.
The sources added that Yeddyurappa had tried to mend fences with Eshwarappa twice recently but the meetings did not materialise with the latter failing to turn up.
Yeddyurappa is keen on meeting Eshwarappa for discussions after the two-day state executive meeting in Kalaburagi from January 21.
No BJP leader has been invited for the RSS Samanvaya Baitak, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The meeting will discuss only organisational matters. There was speculation in a section of the media that the meeting will try to work on a patch-up between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa.
Meanwhile, State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa said in Kolar that there was no difference of opinion between him and K S Eshwarappa.
Speaking to reporters, Yeddyurappa said that reports over lack of understanding between him and Eshwarappa were created by the media.