By Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Metro Reporter
THE FIGHT WITHIN!
YEDURAPPA ACCUSES ESHWARAPPA FOR HIS FALL. RSS INTERVENES. FUTURE OF BJP UNCERTAIN.
The infighting in State BJP took a sudden turn for the worst when Yeddyurappa targeted State BJP President Eshwarappa and accused him of engineering him to ‘Jail’. Yedurappa again set the January 15th deadline to the BJP High Command for his rehabilitation and also discreetly hinted at forming a new regional party. The BJP’s leaders and cadres were shocked and surprised with the out bursts of Yedurappa against Eshwarappa. The infighting intensified as the deadline approached, but, the intervention of RSS leaders has doused the flames for now. However, considering that Yedurappa is a hardcore leader, the future is surely uncertain.
Yedurappa’s resignation as the Chief Minister was necessitated by the Lokayukta Report on mining scam. The BJP High Command directed Yedurappa to resign and he accused the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde of conspiring with opposition parties to unseat him. Earlier to this, he had accused the Governor HR Bharadwaj of conspiracy with Congress leaders to oust him from the CM post. At that time, the State BJP President Eswarappa called for a State wide bundh to protest against the Governor sanctioning the prosecution of Yedurappa under Prevention of Corruption Act. Eshwarappa called the Governor names and accused him of being a Congress agent. He had even asked the Governor to vacate the Raj Bhavan and work in the KPCC office to prove his loyalty the Congress especially the Gandhi family. This was all clearly in defense of Yedurappa.
And now, the same Yedurappa has turned his attention to Eshwarappa. The other day, he made sensational accusations against Eshwarappa for being the root cause for his ouster from CM post and his going to jail. Interestingly, the same Yedurappa had accused Santosh Hegde in conspiring with some ‘disgruntled elements in BJP to send him to the Jail. However, Yedurappa was sent to jail by the Lokayukta Judge in a corruption related case. When Santosh Hegde rebuked him strongly against such senseless statements, he then fell silent.
His outburst is understandable as Yedurappa is desperate and things are not going his way. Even with regard to the appointment of the Lokayukta, Sadananda Gowda proposed Justice Bannurmath as Lokayukta allegedly on the advice of Yedurappa, but the Governor refused to consent because of a controversy. Sadananda Gowda stood firm with the name and governor too stuck to his decision. Eshwarappa too strongly reacted and asked the Governor to shut up and clear the name. He has been using most derogatory words to condemn the attitude of the Governor. Nobody in the government or the BJP has dared to use such strong words against a constitutional authority. However, the Governor officially sent back the file to the government for suggesting another name to the post. To rub salt to the injury, Sadananda Gowda is no more rigid for confrontation with the governor and has stated that he will have to consider other options and suggest other names to the Lokayukta post.
It should be remembered that after resigning Yedurappa had commented that he will be back as CM in 6 months time. Recently, his loyalist Renukacharya had also commented that as promised Sadananda Gowda should step down from the post after Sankranti to make way for Yedurappa. Yedurappa too mentioned that he knows how to organise a party and run it, dropping enough hints at forming a party of his own in case he is not given back the CM post. Apparently, there are two strong factions in the state BJP that are fighting amongst themselves and the high command is helpless. Yedurappa had once again set a deadline of January 15th for his appropriate rehabilitation and as the deadline approached the feud within the BJP intensified.
However, the RSS leaders finally intervened and it seems they have at least for now doused the fire. The leaders have made it clear that Sadananda Gowda will continue as CM and Eshwarappa as Party chief. They have also advised Yedurappa to have patience and wait for an appropriate time for his rehabilitation. Yedurappa’s plan of state tour is approved but with a twist. It will be under the banner of BJP and he will be accompanied by both Sadananda & Eshwarappa.
Whatsoever, Yedurappa has rubbed the party and Eshwarappa the wrong way. Yedurappa may say that there are minor differences and Eshwarappa may keep quiet and shrug off the charges, but, the fact remains that the state politics will be heading for a showdown.
That is all.
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