The BJP’s Karnataka unit is again witnessing bitter infighting between the camps of BS Yeddyurappa and KS Eshwarappa – and it appears far from over.

Though the central leadership undertook a two-day fire-fighting exercise and warned both factions against any indiscipline, party leaders who were removed from organisational posts have publicly voiced concern over the action taken against them.

Two leaders from each faction were stripped of party posts over charges of going public on the party’s internal matters.

MB Bhanuprakash, who was removed as party’s State Vice-President, called a press conference in Shivamogga to object to the manner of his removal. He also took exception to the party issuing a media statement on his removal even before he was informed about it.

Ban on ‘brigades’

BJP General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, P Muralidhar Rao, said that the only focus of his party was to make Karnataka ‘free of Congress’, in tune with its achievements in other States. “There is no other distraction. BJP is the only party which has internal democracy. We have an internal set-up to take up various issues within and we have various avenues at different levels. The party activists will use this make known their views. There will be some issues within, as it is a national party but we have always addressed it.”

Rao further stressed that the BJP will not accommodate any ‘forum’ or ‘brigade’ outside the party. His comments come in the wake of raging dissident activity led by Eshwarappa, who has waged an open war against State party president Yeddyurappa. Eshwarappa had set up the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, a parallel movement to seek the support of the backward classes. It was however, seen as a challenge to Yeddyurappa’s leadership.

“The BJP has made it clear that there is no need for a forum or any brigade outside the party promoted by the party leaders or workers ‘in any name’,” Rao said.

BSY confident

However, Yeddyurappa, who is the target of disgruntled leaders, feels that situation will be normal in a week’s time.

“All this confusion will end. It won’t repeat again. Our party national president Amit Shah has taken this task, that’s the reason Muralidhar Rao was sent here...,” he said on Monday.

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