Nod to KSE's HINDA rallies, snub to BSY

BENGALURU: Leader of the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa has had the last laugh in his confrontation with BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on his plans to hold HINDA (Kannada acronym for backward and dalit) rallies.

Eshwarappa is set to go ahead with his plans as his move received support from BJP National General Secretary in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka Muralidhara Rao here on Tuesday.

Brushing aside Yeddyurappa’s opposition to Eshwarappa’s plan to organise HINDA rallies through Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, Rao backed the proposal at the state BJP core committee meet chaired by Yeddyurappa. “HINDA rallies could benefit BJP. Those who want to be part of the rallies could ultimately support BJP,” Rao said.

Rao also said the work of the ‘Namo Brigade’ has helped bring new supporters for the BJP and played a role in BJP’s victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha election to justify his argument. Defending his plans to organise HINDA rallies, Eshwarappa said, “HINDA rallies will not be organised under my leadership.”

Eshwarappa reiterated his loyalty to the party by declaring, “BJP is my mother. I will never betray the party. I will participate in the proposed rallies.” Yeddyurappa also came under fire for his alleged autocratic style of functioning as Eshwarappa, Union Minister Ananth Kumar, and leaders Jagadish Shettar and leader C T Ravi reportedly expressed displeasure about the way Yeddyurappa appointed district-level office-bearers without taking them into confidence.

Rao is said to have conveyed to Yeddyurappa to change his style of functioning and instructed that any decision on party organisational issues should be taken only at the core committee meeting.

Rao also asked Yeddyurappa to accommodate senior party leaders at the district level for the organisational posts, conduct core committee meetings every month and allow caste-based rallies.

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