Signature campaign to seek KSE outster

In a new turn of events in the state BJP, supporters of party president B S Yeddyurappa have started a signature campaign seeking the ouster of senior leader K S Eshwarappa.

According to a party source, 20 MLAs, five MLCs and a couple of MPs have signed a letter addressed to BJP national president Amit Shah seeking disciplinary action against Eshwarappa for indulging in 'anti-party' activities. Another source said 94 former elected representatives have also signed the letter. The sources said the initiative to launch a counter campaign against Eshwarappa was taken by Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath.

Eshwarappa is associating himself with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, a forum of OBCs and the Dalits, much to the chagrin of Yeddyurappa. The sources said the letter refers to the association of Eshwarappa with the Brigade and his “arbitrary statements” had dented the party’s image and also divided the party cadre. The letter seeks that Eshwarappa ‘dissolve’ the Brigade and work for the party failing which disciplinary action be taken against him.

Some signatories include legislators Arvind Limbavali, Aravind Ballad, B Suresh Gowda, Anand Mamani, Prabhu Chauhan, B Y Raghavendra, B J Puttaswamy. The letter is likely to be despatched to Shah on Wednesday.

Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa are not on speaking terms and the rift between them was evident at the recent state executive committee meeting of the BJP in Kalaburagi.