BSY-KSE rift mars BJP state executive meeting 

Supporters of Yeddyurappa shouted slogans and sat on dharna during the first day of the two-day meeting, demanding action against Eshwarappa and his followers.
BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa and others at the inauguration of state executive committee meeting in Kalaburagi|Express
BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa and others at the inauguration of state executive committee meeting in Kalaburagi|Express

KALABURAGI: The rift between state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa and senior leader and vocal proponent of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade KS Eshwarappa came to the fore during the party’s state executive committee meeting in Kalaburagi on Saturday.

Supporters of Yeddyurappa shouted slogans and sat on dharna during the first day of the two-day meeting, demanding action against Eshwarappa and his followers.

When the issue of drought prevailing in the state was taken up for discussion at the beginning of the meeting, leaders like former minister Renukacharya and senior leader H R Vishwanath raised the issue of Eshwarappa and insisted that action be taken against him and his followers.

While Yeddyurappa and Union minister Ananth Kumar said that it could be discussed later, Vishwanath, Renukacharya, members of the Mahila Morcha and other supporters of Yeddyurappa shouted slogans, sat on dharna and insisted that the issue be discussed first.

There was also some confusion within the BJP about the issue, with some leaders taking divergent viewpoints.

Former deputy chief minister R Ashok, speaking to reporters, said that national general secretary of BJP and Karnataka in-charge Muralidhar Rao held one-to-one discussions with members of both the factions and that he too had a meeting with Rao.

He added that party national president Amit Shah is likely to meet the warring leaders in New Delhi to discuss the issue. He also added that Shah would assure Eshwarappa of sending observers to some districts where any dissatisfaction about selection of office-bearers would be sorted out.

When asked whether Eshwarappa would then abandon the Rayanna Brigade, Ashok said the Brigade was born due to the dissatisfaction over selection of office-bearers and would go if Eshwarappa’s grievances were resolved.

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