BENGALURU: The factional feud between BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council KS Eshwarappa continues to simmer even after the directive from party high command to bury the hatchet and work unitedly for the party’s victory in the 2018 Assembly polls.
The sparks were very much visible even at the recently concluded two-day BJP State Executive meet. Though Eshwarappa turned up even after a strong message from party National President Amit Shah, the meeting however failed to iron out the differences among its leaders and send a message of unity to its rank and file.
Yeddyurappa did not even bother to acknowledge Eshwarappa when the latter greeted him at the inaugural of the executive meet.
Many at the executive meet had hoped that Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa would put an end to their tussle and would fall in line with central leadership. But the hope proved a false one.
The unity is need of the hour in BJP as rank and file of the party, leaders and office bearers are upset and are demoralised from infighting that has touched its peak after BJP losing both Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-poll.
“There are no differences in the party. We will go on a 38-day state tour from May 18 to galvanise the party. Eshwarappa will also be part of the yatra,” Yeddyurappa said.
He also sent a strong message that there would be no place for Sangolli Rayanna Brigade (SRB) in BJP to organise backward community and dalit rallies as the party has its own BJP BC Morcha and BJP SC/ST Morcha. Eshwarappa has been instructed to dissociate himself from SRB and organise OBC rallies under the banner of BJP instead.
However, Eshwarappa continues to fume and has refused so far to snap his ties with SRB.