Bengaluru, Jan 14: BJP leader K?S?Eshwarappa, who is involved in a face-off with B?S?Yeddyurappa, seems to be getting support in the party.
As many as 24 BJP?second line leaders, including five sitting legislators, have written to Yeddyurappa stating that his style of functioning is damaging the party's image.
The letter comes at a time when differences between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa seem to be reaching a flashpoint.
The two-page letter mentions the name of sitting legislators M?B?Bhanuprakash, Raghunath?Rao Malkapure, Somanna Bevinamard, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, former ministers Sogadu Shivanna and S?A?Ravindranath among others as its signatories.
The letter states that Yeddyurappa's “unilateral decisions” while appointing party office bearers, district presidents and other functionaries have dampened the spirit of party workers.
Workers who have served for decades for the party have been sidelined, affecting their morale, the letter states.
Decisions are being taken without taking the core-committee into confidence, they charged. Similar questions had been raised by Eshwarappa too.
It mentions another letter written to Yeddyurappa on August 1 last year seeking time to discuss and end the “confusion” in the party. However, there was no response from?Yeddyurappa.
Damage control
The Yeddyurappa camp, apparently taken aback after the letter landed with the media, swung into damage-control mode. Party spokesperson G Madhusudhan, in a statement, questioned the authenticity of the letter pointing out that it is unsigned. He also stated that it is an act of “mischief mongers”.
He said Yeddyurappa's office had not received any letter on August 1.
However, when contacted, MLCs?Bhanuprakash and Malkapure independently confirmed that they had written to Yeddyurappa in the interest of the party. “I drafted the letter. I am aware that 16 leaders have signed the letter while others have given their oral consent,” Bhanuprakash said.
He also took objection to Madhusudhan calling them mischief mongers and said they were dedicated party workers.
Malkapure also confirmed the contents of the letter but said they had not released it to the media.
The leaders questioned the rationale behind leaving out a senior leader like Eshwarappa from the drought study teams constituted by the party.
What they expect from BSY
Take everyone into confidence while managing party
Review appointments of office bearers, functionaries
Give priority to BJP workers while making appointments
Revoke show cause notices issued to Sogadu Shivanna, M?B Nandish
Revoke suspension of Hanumanthappa, who was BJP Honnali president
Will not change office-bearers:?BSY
Yeddyurappa said that it was not fair on part of MLC Bhanuprakash to share the details of the letter he has written to the party with the media. He said that he learnt through media that Bhanuprakash has expressed his displeasure over the appointment of office-bearers to various district units in the letter written to him.
BJP?state core committee is slated to meet on January 21 and 23 in Belagavi. It is the ideal platform to discuss such issues. Being in a responsible position, Bhanuprakash should not have gone to the media, he said, reports DHNS from Shivamogga. Yeddyurappa made it clear that there is no question of changing the office-bearers under any circumstance. Let him discuss the issue with the party national president Amit Shah, he said.
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