Bengaluru: The office bearers of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade (SRB) headed by BJP senior leader K S Eshwarappa have claimed that the organisation was not meant to counter Bharatiya Janata Party’ s state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Addressing a press conference, after a meeting of the SRB here on Thursday, office bearers, K. Mukudappa, K. Virupakshappa and Chi.Na. Ramu claimed that the organisation’s primary aim is to see BSY become the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. “It is not to counter BSY but to support him. We are also intended to invite him for the SRB’s first mega convention in Haveri on September 26,” they said.

“We will request Yeddyurappa to guide us to take the SRB forward. Our prime moto is to strengthen his hands and the BJP. SRB would act as platform for the backward classes to get actively involved in the party,” they declared.

“Many leaders from other backward classes are afraid of openly identifying with the Bharatiya Janata Party although it released a thousand crores for the welfare of other backward classes when in power and Rs 90 crore to various mutts headed by pontiffs from other backward classes. It also declared a holiday on Valmiki Jayanti,” Veerupakshappa said.

However, Yeddyurappa has opposed Eshwarappa’s active involvement in the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. According to sources, most senior leaders along with Eshwarappa, who are angered by Yeddyurappa’s arbitrary decisions are now backing the new brigade.