JOIN USSenior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday supported disgruntled party leaders who have been expressing their resentment against the style of functioning of the party’s state president B S Yeddyurappa.
The leaders have set a deadline of March 15 for Yeddyurappa to review the appointment of office-bearers and district unit presidents. “There is nothing wrong in their demand. If a mistake has been committed, then it needs to be rectified. What they are seeking is in the interest of the party. They cannot be called rebels,” Eshwarappa told reporters here.
The disgruntled leaders, led by BJP state vice-president M B Bhanuprakash and former minister Sogadu Shivanna, have objected to Yeddyurappa’s “unilateral decisions” while appointing party office-bearers, district unit presidents and other functionaries.
Eshwarappa said he held discussions with Yeddyurappa on holding OBC conventions across the state in the name of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna, as directed by party national president Amit Shah.
In another development, senior leader R Ashoka met former minister M H Ambareesh and held talks with him. BJP is keen that Ambareesh, who has been sulking ever since he was dropped from the state Cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, join the BJP. But Ambareesh was not available for comment.
The BJP will organise protests across the state on March 9 seeking that the state government waive crop loans availed by farmers, BJP state General Secretary N Ravikumar stated in a press statement.
Meeting with BSY
Late in the evening, Yeddyurappa told reporters that the party’s presidents of Belagavi city unit, Ballari and Kodagu district units will be changed.
He took the decision after a group of disgruntled leaders, including Sogadu Shivanna, Bhanuprakash and Nandish, met him at the party office in Malleswaram and discussed about their demands.