BENGALURU: The tussle between BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and senior leader K S Eshwarappa has taken a new turn with the latter trying to play the ‘Kuruba’ card. Eshwarappa, who held a convention of Kuruba community leaders here on Monday, is keen to revive the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, a service-minded outfit of the community.
The brigade has been asked to organise rallies all over the state to not only consolidate the Kuruba community, but even Other Backward Communities and Dalits. The move is being seen as a larger game plan of Eshwarappa to consolidate his political turf within the BJP even as he continues to oppose Yeddyurappa’s “unilateral appointment of party office-bearers in various districts”.
Eshwarappa is opposing the appointment of S Rudre Gowda as the president of Shivamogga district president of BJP. Rudre Gowda had contested as a KJP candidate against Eshwarappa in the 2013 Assembly election.
Eshwarappa, who had complained to party national president Amit Shah against Yeddyurappa’s style of functioning, is firm in his resolve to continue his resistance. “There are some differences among state BJP leaders over a few issues. They would be sorted out through talks. The BJP core committee is set to meet on August 16 and the issues will be deliberated at the meeting,” Eshwarappa said.
However, he denied having any feeling of antagonism towards Yeddyurappa. “Yeddyurappa is our leader and he will be the next Chief Minister. I have no ill- feelings against Yeddyurappa. I am only taking up a few issues in the larger interest of the party,” Eshwarappa added.
Meanwhile, Eshwarappa’s moves have come under fire from the BSY bandwagon, which claims to be fighting for the welfare of the Kuruba community. BSY supporters have accused Eshwarappa of trying to indulge in cheap politics in the name of Kuruba community and have urged Eshwarappa to refrain from maligning Yeddyurappa.
New anti-superstition bill set for next session
Bengaluru: Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, who heads the Cabinet sub-committee for finalising the provisions of the anti-superstition bill, said the committee would submit its report in a month and the Bill is expected to be tabled in the next Assembly session. The Bill was held back earlier after many MLAs expressed apprehension that the bill could invite strong resistance from people. “It is difficult to implement Anti-Superstition laws in countries such as India where many rituals are rooted as a tradition for thousands of years. We have to tread cautiously while drafting the Bill,” he said.