The party’s central leadership advised Yeddyurappa to “take everyone along” and reprimanded Eshwarappa, who, over the past few days has been attacking the CM over the issue of dynastic rule and distribution of cash and liquor during the Lok Sabha elections.
The party leadership also decided to despatch general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Arun Jaitley, to Bangalore to iron out the differences in the state unit.
Sensing that the ugly stand- off between Yeddyurappa and a few other legislators was causing embarrassment to the BJP, the party high command on Wednesday intervened to reprimand Eshwarappa. No sooner did the central leadership step in than Eshwarappa said he had no differences with Yeddyurappa, adding that he has full faith in his leadership.
Over the past three days, Eshwarappa attacked the CM for fielding his son B Y Raghavendra from the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency and charged him with use of money and liquor power to win the elections.
The central leadership is also not keen that state BJP president Sadananda Gowda takes disciplinary action against Eshwarappa. Gowda, who was clear that he would not tolerate any indiscipline, was directed not to issue a show cause notice to Eshwarappa.
But the intervention does not seem to have had the desired effect, at least apparently. The Energy Minister is believed to have turned down Yeddyurappa’s invite for a one-on-one meeting. Eshwarappa skipped a breakfast meeting the CM hosted on Wednesday for BJP MPs from Karnataka here. He did not accompany the CM’s delegation to meet the central ministers.
According to sources, BJP president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Arun Jaitley summoned Eshwarappa and reprimanded him for going public about the party’s internal affairs. They are also said to have asked him to immediately issue a clarification to clear the air.
Eshwarappa said while discussing party affairs with the central leadership he impressed upon it to give “proper guidance” to the CM. “Rajnath has promised to send Jaitley to the state,” he said.
He quickly pointed out that the media had blown his comments out of proportion. “As a result the opposition parties have tried to exploit the situation,” he said.
The reprimand followed complaints by Yeddyurappa who seems to have rallied round him considerable support from several party legislators and ministerial colleagues.