Concerned over the continued rift between state president BS Yeddyurappa and Leader of opposition in the legislative council KS Eshwarappa, the BJP’s national leadership has decided to step in.
According to reports, BJP’s national president Amit Shah has taken note of the growing feud within the party in Karnataka over Eshwarappa’s move to conduct a convention of Sangollli Rayanna Brigade- a platform for the deprived - despite warnings from BSY against doing so.
Amit Shah has reportedly summoned the two leaders to New Delhi on Friday to iron out the differences between the two leaders, especially in the wake of the upcoming elections in 2018. He has also expressed his displeasure at the feud encouraging groups within the BJP in the state.
The meeting is to take place a day after Eshwarappa organizes the convention at Bagalkot on Thursday.
Union minister Ananth Kumar, MP Prahlad Joshi, BJP national joint organising secretary Santosh and BJP state organising secretary Ravi Kumar, have also been summoned for talks at his residence, say reports.
Speaking to The Times of India, Eshwarappa said that he had only two demands to make at the meeting with Amit Shah.
“A rejig of the office-bearers in the state party unit, and recognition for the Rayanna Briagde will be my only demands before the central leadership,” he said.
Brigade president K Veerupakshappa was quoted as saying by TOI that the members would go ahead with their plan of participating in the Brigade convention.
“Eshwarappa has arrived in Bagalkot, and he will participate in the convention. As far as taking disciplinary action is concerned, that's left to the party leaders. We have nothing to do with the party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa’s supporters have launched a signature campaign against Eshwarappa demanding his ouster from the post of Leader of Opposition. Of the 17 MPs from Karnataka, nearly 10 MPs are learnt to have signed the petition.