Bengaluru: The rift between Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Bharatiya Janata Party state President Nalin Kumar Kateel seems to be getting bigger. If the party sources are to be believed then individuals who were once kept away from the party by former party chief and incumbent Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa are now being brought back by Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Nalin, on Thursday appointed former MLA Nirmal Kumar Suran and former MLC M B Bhanuprakash as the BJP state Vice-Presidents. What is surprising is that both of these leaders were kept away from the party’s affairs by Yediyurappa during his tenure as the party chief.

Nirmal Kumar, who claimed that he was unhappy with the party’s conduct, had also warned of filing a complaint with the party’s high command against BSY. Bhanuprakash too had aired his anger against BSY for sidelining him. Soon, BSY had given Bhanuprakash the post of the Vice-President of the party, but later removed him from the post. In turn of event, he was again offered the same post, but this time Bhanuprakash had refused to accept the same.

The difference of opinion between the two have been making rounds and it was only on Tuesday that BSY announced that a committee, led by C V Ramannagar, has been formed to finalise the party’s strategy for the upcoming BBMP mayoral and deputy mayoral elections. However, on Wednesday, Kateel made a statement that no such committee has been formed.

It is also said that Kateel is facing a lot of difficulties while performing his duties as no party leaders are helping him out and people loyal to the CM have been openly insulting him.