Shah brokers peace between BSY, Eshwarappa

BJP president Amit Shah on Friday night worked out a peace formula to bring together state party chief B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa, under which both the leaders will address rallies jointly to mobilise support of backward classes and Dalits. 

These rallies will be held under the auspices of the Karnataka BJP OBC Morcha of which Eshwarappa will be in charge. No BJP leader will address any meeting or rally organised by any outfit including the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.

The truce was announced after a meeting between these leaders with BJP national president Amit Shah after a three-hour meeting at his residence.

Announcing a pact between the leaders, Muralidhar Rao, BJP in-charge for Karnataka, said: “BJP OBC Morcha will organise all meetings related to backward communities. Secondly, Eshwarappa will be in charge of it. Thirdly, Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa will travel together to address meetings across the state for this purpose. No leader of the BJP will participate in any other rally organised by any brigade, including Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.”

Yeddyurappa said there would be no brigade other than Karnataka OBC Morcha. He and Eshwarappa will travel together. Eshwarappa said he will work with Yeddyurappa for the success of the BJP and free Karnataka of Congress rule. “Everything is settled, and we will work together.”

A day after Eshwarappa's supporters staged a show of strength under the banner of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade in Bagalkot district, Shah sought to bring about a truce between him and Karnataka BJP chief by holding the meeting with both of them together.

As their differences reached a flash point, Shah is understood to have asked both the leaders to keep the party's interests in mind as the next round of assembly elections was not far away.

Shah was joined in the huddle by the party’s national organising general secretary Ram Lal, joint general secretary in charge of southern states B L Santosh, and national general secretary in charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Rao.

“We had good discussion on the political situation in Karnataka. Everybody will work to liberate. In every state, we have OBC morcha to look after. Karnataka OBC morcha will organise programme in the name of Rangoli Rayanna. Both BSY and K S Eshwarappa will address. No leader of BJP will participate in any programme of Sangoli Rayanna other than the party's OBC morcha,” Rao said.

Just before Shah went into a discussion with Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa, he was briefed on the circumstances leading to the current crisis in the party by RSS leader Mukund.

Shah heard Eshwarappa's contention that his supporters were only strengthening the BJP's support base by mobilising the backward classes. But Yeddyurappa said the speeches delivered at the convention on Thursday were directed against his leadership.

Yeddyurappa said he wanted any campaign to mobilise support among Dalits and backward classes to be taken up within the party forum. 

Eshwarappa, on his part, conveyed to the BJP national chief that Yeddyurappa's style of functioning had led to an atmosphere of alienation within the party since all sections had not been represented in the party organisation.

Eshwarappa pressed for restructuring of all committees of the party to give adequate representation to different quarters, according to party sources.
Without mincing words, Yeddyurappa is understood to have listed the instances when his detractors had gone public with their views affecting the image of the BJP at a crucial time.

The state BJP chief emphasised on the need for discipline by all sides and wanted everyone to keep in mind the larger “goal” of unseating an “inept” Congress government in the state.

Eshwarappa wanted the party high command to give importance to the organisation rather than an individual to avoid a repeat of problems that plagued the BJP during its rule from 2008 to 2013 when it had to change chief ministers three times.

Yeddyurappa said he had shown a lot of restraint for the sake of unity and even asked his supporters, who had taken up a signature campaign seeking action against Eshwarappa, to desist from indulging in such activities.
DH News Service

Truce terms
Yeddyurappa, Eshwarappa to address joint rallies
No BJP leader to attend Sangolli Rayanna Brigade meetings
Eshwarappa to be in charge of Karnataka OBC Morcha
Eshwarappa complains against Yeddyurappa’s style of functioning
Yeddyurappa stresses on discipline within party