Keep off Rayanna Brigade meet, Yeddyurappa tells party cadres

 On the eve of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade convention in Kudalasangama being spearheaded by senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, state party president B S Yeddyurappa warned party cadres against attending the meet.

“The BJP has nothing to do with the Brigade. I once again advise party cadres not to attend the event. But if someone wants to participate in the convention, I cannot stop them,” Yeddyurappa said, addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

While Yeddyurappa did not spell out what action will be taken against those who defy his diktat, sources is his camp said several party functionaries have been entrusted with the task of keeping tabs on those who attend the convention.

Eshwarappa has been associating himself with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, a forum of OBCs and Dalits, much to the chagrin of Yeddyurappa. The duo are not even on talking terms. The convention at Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district is being organised on a large-scale and around 30 OBC and Dalit seers are expected to attend the event which will begin at 10 am.  Yeddyurappa refused to take any questions by the media on Eshwarappa. “We will resolve everything,” he said. He said party national general secretary in charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Rao has taken note of the developments and briefed party national president Amit Shah.

On the signature campaign taken up by his supporters against Eshwarappa, Yeddyurappa said it was not required. However, BJP legislators said the letter, signed by 25 MLAs, 5 MLCs and 94 former elected representatives, was dispatched to Shah on Wednesday. The letter refers to Eshwarappa’s association with the Brigade and that his “arbitrary statements” had dented the party’s image and divided the party cadre. The letter seeks that Eshwarappa should disassociate from the Brigade and work for the party, failing which, disciplinary action be initiated against him.