Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 23: The cold war between the two BJP heavyweights BS Yeddyurappa and KS Eshwarappa has resumed, a clear indication that the peace brokered between them by the party high command Amit Shah has failed.
BS Yeddyurappa is the State BJP president and former chief minister while KS Eshwarappa is the Leader of the Opposition in the state council. The fact that Yeddyurappa was Eshwarappa’s mentor is not a secret, something which Eshwarappa still openly credits Yeddyurappa for making him MLA from Shivamogga city in 1989 and later BJP Karnataka chief in the early 1990s.
However, the bitterness between the two began when Eshwarappa was made a minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet in 2008. Later, Eshwarappa objected Yeddyurappa getting a ticket for his son BY Raghavendra in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, terming it as ‘dynastic politics’ which hurt Yeddyurappa the most.
The rift grew when Yeddyurappa resigned as Chief Minister in mid-2011 and went on to float a new political party. Eshwarappa lost the 2013 Assembly polls to the Congress.
Yeddyurappa’s return to BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and being made the BJP Chief and the Chief Ministerial Face in the upcoming assembly polls supposedly made Eshwarappa insecure. Yeddyurappa, who was now seen as an outsider, was taking unilateral party decisions much to the dismay of BJP leaders. Some complained of his arrogance.
The first sign of rebellion was seen when Eshwarappa announced the formation of a ‘Sangolli Rayanna brigade’, a forum that promised programmes for SCs, STs and OBCs “if the BJP comes to power in 2018” in August 2017.
Sangolli Rayanna, a freedom fighter from Kuruba caste, is a part of Karnataka's folklore and Eshwarappa cleverly named the brigade to boast his own caste identity, to tackle Yeddyurappa who is considered an undisputed leader of the Lingayats.
However, Eshwarappa denies that the brigade is in retaliation to Yeddyurappa and says it is to win back Dalits and Backward classes to the BJP. He draws parallels of the Rayanna brigade to CM Siddaramaih’s Ahinda, who also is from Kuruba community and started the movement for the Minorities, Backward Classes, and Dalits.
Eshwarappa had to stop the activities of the brigade after being warned by the party high command. It is said that Yeddyurappa saw the Brigade’s ulterior motives and found their ideologies clashed with his own political interest and warned against BJP members involving in it.
But Eshwarappa’s supporters were miffed and the brigade is still kept alive and held many more rallies, attended by all those who opposed Yeddyurappa.
Eshwarappa then started "save BJP" rally in Bengaluru on 27 April that was attended by hundreds of his supporters. Yeddyurappa’s "style of functioning" was openly opposed and there was a demand that he be removed as the BJP State President. However, nothing changed.
With the two leaders being at loggerheads, Amit Shah had to intervene and broker peace. Eshwarappa then agreed on Yeddyurappa becoming the CM’s face in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa has not guaranteed Eshwarappa a ticket as he is the current MLC and said that the party high command will decide. Eshwarappa was hopeful to receive a ticket from the Shivamogga city.
There are rumours that Eshwarappa is eyeing the CM post, in case Yeddyurappa has to leave in the future.
On February 22 night, Rayanna Brigade’ leaders met Karnataka BJP in-charge Muralidhar Rao demanding 21 tickets for Eshwarappa supporters, including Eshwarappa from Shivamogga city. Rao responded that he has to take up the matter with the party high command.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa retaliated saying that ‘Rayanna Brigade’ was dissolved. Eshwarappa also remained absent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Mysore.
Eshwarappa’s next move is highly being speculated.