BJP streetfight in Shivamogga

Supporters of BSY, KSE come to blows

The dissidence in the district BJP unit turned from bad to worse when followers of BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and leader of Opposition in Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa came to blows outside the party office here on Tuesday .

 Tension prevailed for a while when supporters of both the leaders indulged in a heated argument raising slogans in favour of their respective leaders.

Chaos started when a group of Yeddyurappa’s supporters submitted a memorandum to district BJP president S Rudregowda seeking disciplinary action against those who walked out of a press conference on Monday. This led to a tussle between the supporters of Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa. The situation worsened when Yeddyurappa’s followers demanded suspension of Eshwarappa’s supporters Girish Patel, S N Channabasappa, S Dattatri, Jnaneshwar and Nagaraj for boycotting the press meet. This led to a tussle and the members of both the factions manhandled each other.

Soon, hundreds of people gathered at the party office. The police and other leaders rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Yeddyurappa’s personal assistant K P Purushottam, corporator Malatesh, slum morcha office-bearer B Channabasappa, workers Lakshman Pawar and Ramachandra Rao Pawar, Santosh Ballekere and others were part of the group that favoured Yeddyurappa.

 District BJP general secretary S N Channabasappa, who had walked out of the press meet on Monday, said the incident should not have taken place. “In the memorandum submitted to the district party unit president, it is mentioned that I have indulged in anti-party activities. But I am not involved in any such activity.”

He said that he would quit the party, if the charges levelled against him were proved.

Channabasappa also accused Purushottam of indulging in cheap politics.
Some followers of both the leaders sustained minor injuries in the incident.