Karnataka: It's unity mantra for BJP top brass
Some leaders raise issue of rift between BSY and KSE , leading to commotion for a while at the meet.
Kalaburagi: General secretary of the BJP Muralidhar Rao on Saturday cautioned his party leaders to understand the importance of unity.
Addressing the party's state executive committee meeting here, he reminded them that people had supported the BJP whenever it had gone to them united.
Making it clear that the party’s central leadership was looking to regain power in Karnataka, he said, “We want Karnataka to be a light-post for the BJP in the entire south India.”
His comments assume significance in the background of the worsening rivalry between state party president, B S Yeddyurappa and senior leader, K S Eshwarappa.
While prominent leaders of the BJP like Jagadish Shettar and Sadananda Gowda refused to comment on their differences in public on Saturday, some leaders raised the issue at the party's state executive committee meeting that started later, kicking up a commotion for a while.
BJP leaders, Renukacharya, Raju Gowda, Veeraiah, B J Puttaswamy and others objected to the comments being made against Mr Yeddyurappa by some in the party, saying this could sully its image and demanded action against Mr Eshwarappa without naming him, for violating party discipline.
While Mr Eshwarappa was not present at the time, his supporters strongly objected to the demand, kicking off a commotion. Mr Muralidhar Rao reportedly intervened and advised the leaders not to raise the controversial issue at the meeting. “I’m observing the developments and will try to resolve the issue. I appeal to both groups not to mention it now. I’m available after the meeting and you can discuss it with me then,” he is learnt to have told them.
Meanwhile speaking to reporters before the start of the meeting, Mr Eshwarappa admitted there were differences in the party, but warned the Congress against having any illusions of returning to power.
Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day meeting, Mr Yeddyurappa and senior leaders, Ananthkumar and Madhusdhan Rao called upon party workers to launch a state-wide agitation to dislodge the “inert” Congress government in the state and install a “Kalyana Karnataka” under BJP rule.
Describing the five year tenure of the BJP in the state as the golden era of Karnataka politics, Mr Yeddyurappa claimed the people were eagerly awaiting its return.