JOIN USCentral leaders to intervene to end factional feud in state BJP
The BJP's central leadership has decided to step in to contain a fresh bout of intense infighting in the party’s Karnataka unit, which is threatening to cast a shadow on next year’s Assembly polls.
BJP sources in New Delhi said the top brass is “concerned” over the rift between the warring camps led by sate BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa playing out in public again. This despite the fact that party president Amit Shah had mediated in January to work out a patch-up formula to end the factional feud.
Yeddyurappa flew down to the national capital on Friday night armed with "series of reports" on rebel activities of Eshwarappa and his supporters.
BJP sources said he has sought time from Amit Shah and general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal to present his side of the feud, which he says is “damaging the organisation ahead of elections” and, seek action against Eshwarappa.
BJP sources said that it is unlikely that Shah will meet Yeddyurappa since he is scheduled to tour Jammu for the next three days as part of the party's expansion programme.
Yeddyurappa is expected to meet Ram Lal or BJP general secretary in-charge of Karnataka P Muralidhara Rao on Saturday to press for action against the dissidents, who had held a convention in Bengaluru on Thursday and publicly criticised him for his “dictatorial” style of functioning.
Sources close to Yeddyurappa said that except for one or two, every demand of the rival faction has been met.
For instance, the party’s women cell chief and some district presidents were removed owing to reservations expressed by Eshwarappa. Before leaving for New Delhi, Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that he has sent a report to the party’s central leaders on the convention organised by Eshwarappa on Thursday. Yeddyurappa said he is ready to discuss any issue within the party forum.
“We could have sorted out all issues,” he said using past tense in his speech indicating that the rift in the party had reached a point of no return.
Replying to queries, Yeddyurappa said RSS functionary B L Santhosh had been given responsibility at the national level and he should not interfere in the affairs of the state unit. On Thursday, Yeddyurappa had blamed Santhosh for creating the rift in the party for his personal gains.
BJP legislators from the Yeddyurappa camp have sought that Eshwarappa should step down as the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council as he is misusing his position to carry out a campaign against the party state president.
KSE performs Ashlesha pooja
K S Eshwarappa, who slammed Yeddyurappa at the ‘Save Party Organisation’ convention in Bengaluru on Thursday, was busy performing Ashlesha Pooja (Naga pooja) with his family members at his residence at Malleshwaranagar in Shivamogga on Friday. Several religious rituals were performed as part of the event and food was served to a large number of people. BJP leaders who have identified with Eshwarappa’s faction and party workers attended the programme, reports DHNS from Shivamogga.