Kalaburgi: The state executive meet of BJP which concluded on January 22, threw many things in the open including incidents that embarrassed the saffron party. Prominent leaders sticking to their guns exposed that BJP is more a divided house, though party State President B S Yeddyurappa mellowed down by the end of the session and called for party unity.
The division within the party came to the fore some time ago, with senior leaders Yeddyurppa and K S Eshwarappa having reservations over Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. Yeddyurappa signalled the party cadres to maintain distance from the brigade to appease his flock. Opposition leader in the council, K S Eshwarappa is hell bent on holding a convention of the brigade in Kudalasangama on January 26 to maintain his image as the “kingmaker” in the party fold.

Party leaders are divided on this issue with Ayanur Manjunath and state BJP Yuva Morcha Vice President Bhima Shankar Patil throwing their weight openly behind Yeddyurappa to checkmate K S Eshwarappa. Many other senior leaders supporting Yeddyurappa have not openly expressed their opposition to the brigade but consider it as tool to cut down Yeddyurappa in size, considering his growing influence in the party fold.

State president’s autocratic style of functioning has distanced even leaders like V Somanna who has considerable influence in his territory.

The division within the party will have serious ramifications with Assembly elections due in the state next year. The central BJP leaders have not expressed their resentment openly against the brigade on many counts. K Muralidhar Rao briefing Amit Shah over internal squabbling clearly shows the deep divide in the state opposition. A one-to- one telephone talks with Eshwarappa at the end of the session by Muralidhar Rao clearly indicated that “All is not well” within the “Disciplined Party.” Leaders like Ananthkumar and Sadananda Gowda will continue to remain “neutral” on many issues only to make life more difficult for B S Yeddyurappa.

Opposition leader in the Assembly and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar will maintain equidistance mainly to appease his Lingayath vote bank on one side and to retain his influence in the party on the other side. R Ashok too cannot be taken lightly because he represents the strong Vokkaliga community in the party and has strong BJP worker support in and around the state capital.

Party president’s emotional speech at the end to resolve the “differences” within themselves gave a clear indication to the fact that BJP is a divided house in the state though he took a hard stance earlier by excluding Eshwarappa from the decision making bodies of the party and having reservations over the formation and continuance of the brigade.

Taking disciplinary action against Eshwarappa will distance the Kuruba community from the party which is also forms the largest vote bank and hence not an easy option.

Will Yeddyurappa walk the thin rope or will he take a gamble to send a clear message to his detractors within the party, is of interest now for all “fence sitters” within the party to jump into the band wagon to secure tickets before Assembly elections.

The central leadership may not like to fish in troubled waters for some more time as it is busy with Assembly election in UP and other states. This apart the “firefighting” following demonetisation will have to continue for some more time with the central budget on the anvil.

Cops whisking away national executive member of the BJP SC Morcha, Venkatesh Maurya from the state executive meet on cheating case, embarrassed the party further denting its image though he was released later.