BJP chief Amit Shah (File|PTI)
BENGALURU: As the growing rift between BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa and senior leader KS Eshwarappa threatens to derail the party’s ‘Mission 150’ to win the 2018 assembly election, BJP national president Amit Shah has summoned both leaders to New Delhi to iron out their differences.
The meeting will take place on Friday, a day after Eshwarappa addresses a rally of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade at Kudalasangama, Bagalkot. Thursday’s rally is being read as a show of strength and sign of defiance by Eshwarappa against Yeddyurappa, who has made public his displeasure against the Rayanna Brigade activities.
Shah has also summoned other top brass of the state, including union minister Ananth Kumar, MP Prahlad Joshi, BJP national joint organising secretary Santosh and BJP state organising secretary Ravi Kumar, for talks at his residence.
BJP national leaders, who are busy campaigning for assembly elections in five northern states, were forced to turn their attention towards Karnataka as the infighting within the party threatened to go out of control with Eshwarappa bent on promoting SRB activities despite Yeddyurappa’s instructions not to do so.
BJP national president Amit Shah has summoned BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa and senior leader KS Eshwarappa to New Delhi to iron out their differences. Confirming the call from the party central leadership for talks, Eshwarappa said that he would go ahead with his participation in SRB rallies while Yeddyurappa said the party national leadership would soon end the confusion over the Brigade.
Shah is said to have expressed his displeasure at the adamant attitude of both leaders over the SRB issue which is encouraging groups in the party.
