BENGALURU: Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa is bullish on getting the support of the party leadership to Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. The brigade has come under fire from the state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and his supporters within the party.
The party central leaders, including national president Amit Shah, have been apprised of the activities of the brigade.
Eshwarappa told reporters here on Tuesday, “If at all they wanted me to put an end to the brigade activities, they would have told me to do so.”
He said that during his meeting with the central leaders, he explained the reasons for being part of the brigade and how it can help the party. “During my meeting with the party president (Amit Shah), he told me that he would meet me and Yeddyurappa in Delhi to resolve the issue. But I requested him to get the views of various people in BJP and RSS before meeting us. He agreed and informed me that he would be coming to Bengaluru to discuss the issue,” he said.
Amit Shah is likely to take up the issue only after assembly elections in UP and other states.
Divided over brigade
Yeddyurappa says the brigade is creating confusion and wants the BJP leaders to work under the party banner. Eshwarappa, however, feels the brigade is getting support from communities that had earlier not backed the party and it would help BJP.
Eshwarappa’s follower and Bengaluru city former Mayor Venkatesh Murthy, who is taking active part in the brigade activities, was suspended from the party recently on charges of anti-party activities. The disciplinary action was seen as a message to others involved in the brigade. That, however, has failed to make any difference and they are going ahead with the next rally at Kudalasangama in North Karnataka on January 26.
“I am willing to meet Yeddyurappa any time and discuss the issues. We are talking about two issues: appointment of office bearers and giving prominence to those who worked for the party, and the brigade activities. I am always open to talks with Yeddyurappa, who is our leader,” Eshwarappa added.
Sources in the BJP said Yedduyurappa did make an effort to reach out to Eshwarappa. “Yeddyurappa went to Shivamogga to attend a meeting convened to discuss all issues during last week of December. Eshwarappa did not attend that meeting,” said a party source.