BS Yeddyurappa, KS Eshwarappa rift is out in the open

The cracks in the BJP grew wider on Thursday with former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa accusing party state president KS Eshwarappa of backstabbing him and blamed the latter for putting him behind bars to tarnish his political image.

Yeddyurappa, who is eyeing key posts in the party after being released on bail after 24 days in jail, lashed out at Eshwarappa. “Ever since he took over as the party president, he has been targeting me. He projects me as a criminal and wants to ensure that I am thrown out of the party,” he said.
This development has had serious repercussions on the party, which is already reeling under a rebellion. Though state party leaders spent considerable time in New Delhi over the past three days, consulting the high command about the crisis, BJP spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar, however, clarified that all is well within the party.
“Yeddyurappa is a senior leader in the party and is also a political guru for both me and Eshwarappa. If there was an exchange of words (between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa), I think it was because of some misunderstandings. I am sure these will be sorted out. There are no serious issues within the party; had they been there, the party high command would have stepped in and resolved it,” he said.
Yeddyurappa claimed credit for building the party in Karnataka and bringing it to power. He said he did that without expecting any posts. “But still, there are conspiracies to bring me down,” he said, adding that he wants to continue as a normal party worker but he would decide the future course of action based on the party’s decision.
He, however, refrained from disclosing his action plan until January 15.
Eshwarappa said the party’s national leaders would not give in so easily to the diktats of one person (Yeddyurappa). “They have stated that the party is above an individual and that they would not be bullied by one man,” he said. “I am expecting the central leadership to take a decision soon on the issue so that there is no confusion. The central leadership wants to drag on the issue for another two years as it wants to groom two more leaders at the state level and face the elections under their leadership.”
Eshwarappa cautioned that the party high command could face a coup in Karnataka BJP ranks if there is no amicable solution over Yeddyurappa’s attempt to capture key posts in the party.
Rumours are rife that Yeddyurappa is contemplating floating a new party or plans to revive Janata Dal (U) in Karnataka.
He has also received feelers from Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to join hands when Yeddyurappa floats a new party. This will allow him a free run to control the alliance in the state to ensure that Congress, JD(S) or BJP do not gain ground.