Saffron subterfuge: RSS snubs proves Yeddyurappa's downturn

Former BJP MP claims that some state leaders were trying to cut Yeddyurappa down to size. Forces inimical to Yeddyurappa appear to have rallied around KS Eshwarappa. In a recent meeting, the RSS didn’t invite both the senior leaders.

A former MP of the BJP ruffled feathers in the saffron party on January 17 by claiming that some state leaders in the party were trying to keep BS Yeddyurappa away from the position of its candidate for CM. Former MP Ayanuru Manjunath alleged that some state leaders were using KS Eshwarappa to “dethrone” Yeddyurappa.

He claimed that to get rid of Yeddyurappa, these leaders were having secret discussions with JDS leaders and also supporting Eshwarappa to establish the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. Interestingly, the state unit of the BJP has seen many developments that seemingly support these allegations by Manjunath. Recently, many leaders, including Eshwarappa, did not attend a core committee meeting called by Yeddyurappa on December 22.

The meeting was postponed to December 31, when Eshwarappa announced that he is unable to attend the meeting. Then again, at the last moment, Eshwarappa said that he was unable to attend even the postponed meeting. Finally, the core committee meeting was postponed three times because of “dissident” leaders.

In a related development, the RSS held its quarterly meeting, a “Samanvaya Baithak,” on January 17 for which none of the top leaders, including Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa, were invited. Usually, 13 leaders of the BJP attend the Samanvaya Baithak, which is held at Keshava Krupa, Bengaluru, to discuss state politics. But, for this particular meeting, only two leaders — Arun Kumar, BJP state general secretary (organisation) and Santhosh Kumar — were invited.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders claim that some cabinet-level Central ministers of BJP were trying to influence the party’s high command to keep Yeddyurappa away from the position of CM candidate.