BSY, Eshwarappa lock horns over Koppal

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The infighting in the ruling BJP, shows no signs of dying out with the party’s top leaders from Shimoga—former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and party state president, K.S. Eshwarappa— slugging it out at a crucial core committee meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day on Wednesday, the two leaders who were in rival camps when the BJP held an election to the chief minister’s post, had made no secret of their differences at an office bearers meeting, virtually moving CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda to tears.

The core committee exchanges happened in the presence of party national general secretary, Dharmendra Pradhan and Mr Sadananda Gowda at the latter’s residence, Anugraha.

Ironically, the meeting was organised at the behest of party senior leaders to broker peace between the warring factions.

Highly placed sources in the party told this newspaper that Mr Yeddyurappa took his friend-turned-foe, Mr Eshwarappa to task for trying to prevent him from leading the campaign for the Koppal bypoll. He is sore with the party leadership for not making a public announcement that he would be leading the charge in Koppal, sources said, adding that the former CM felt Mr Eshwarappa had sabotaged his chances.

The party president also came under attack for issuing a notice to Bengaluru North BJP MP D.B. Chandre Gowda, who had endorsed the view that the Koppal bypoll should be fought under Mr Yeddyurappa’s leadership.

Not the one to take things lying down, Mr Eshwarappa hit back saying Mr Yeddyurappa had ‘hijacked’ the campaign and was not allowing other senior leaders to share the space with him. “Without informing the party or consulting me, Mr. Yeddyurappa entrusted his followers the task of organising the campaign”, Mr. Eshwarappa reportedly complained at the meeting.

The efforts made by Mr Pradhan and Mr Gowda, to pacify two leaders went in vain, the sources said. The tussle between the two top leaders, has left other leaders and party workers confused, sources said, adding that complaints have already been sent to the central leadership to resolve the crisis.

“Fed up with the autocratic attitude of Mr Yeddyurappa, the party president has not shown any interest in the Koppal campaign. If the party directs us, we will join the election campaign”, said a senior minister. Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda has reportedly advised all ministers during the cabinet meeting, to take part in the campaign.