BJP may be set for Eshwarappa-BSY faceoff again

Senior BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa seem to be on a collision course again. BJP national president Amit Shah had brokered peace between the two state leaders only last month.

But on Saturday, Eshwarappa attended a meeting of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, though Shah had asked him not to associate with it. Eshwarappa had distanced himself from the Brigade, a forum of OBCs and Dalits, after Shah’s mediation in New Delhi last month.

Eshwarappa is said to be upset that Yeddyurappa is yet to fulfil an assurance made to Shah that he will review the appointment of office bearers and district presidents.

 Eshwarappa had informally set a deadline to Yeddyurappa to revisit the list by February 10. A committee comprising Eshwarappa, Yeddyurappa, BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao and party organisation secretary B L Santosh was to discuss changes in the list of office-bearers of the party. However, Yeddyurappa has not yet convened a meeting of the committee.

Eshwarappa and several second-rung leaders in the party feel that Yeddyurappa had appointed party functionaries unilaterally.

Eshwarappa told reporters that Shah had not objected to his association with the Brigade but had told him that the forum should not indulge in any political activities or work against the BJP. “It is an apolitical forum working for the welfare of OBCs and Dalits,” he said.

Calendar of events

At the same time, Eshwarappa said he will discharge his responsibilities as BJP’s OBC Morcha in-charge. “The central leadership has directed the state unit to hold conventions across the state in the name of Sangolli Rayanna. I will meet Yeddyurappa on February 13 to chalk out a calendar of events,” he said.

Eshwarappa said the Brigade is planning to provide scholarships to 10,000 merit students across the state from the next academic year.