Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 14: With each passing day, more BJP activists are coming out with their disappointment at the way state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, is handling issues. It is gathered that 24 party leaders including five current legislators have written to Yeddyurappa, expressing concerns about his style of functioning. The timing of the letter gains significance by the fact that the divide between top leaders of the party, Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa, is turning wider with each day.

The letter, which mentions that a sense of resentment is gaining ground among the party activists on account of the current developments, has been sent in the names of legislators, M B Bhanuprakash, Somanna Bevinamard, Raghunath Rao Malkapure, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, apart from former ministers, Sogadu Shivanna and S A Raveendranath, among others.

"The situation has created a divide in the party with activists split between the two factions not being able to bear one another's presence. If this continues, the party will face adverse impact," the letter warns BJP leadership. The letter is particularly critical of the way in which Yeddyurappa made appointment of party office bearers and district level leaders without taking party workers into confidence. It noted that activists who have dedicated decades of their lives for the party have been left high and dry. They also questioned the wisdom of the party leadership in leaving out eminent leader, K S Eshwarappa, when forming drought study committee.

The letter also accuses Yeddyurappa of not responding to an earlier letter dated August 1, 2016 in which they had urged him to allot time for discussing various issues towards clearing air of suspicion and confusion looming over the party.

Party spokesperson, G Madhusudan, expressed doubt about the genuineness of the letter in the hands of the media, as it was unsigned. He thought it was an act of trouble makers. He further stated that no letter dated August 1 was ever received by Yeddyurappa as mentioned in the above letter. But when contacted by media persons, some of the signitories confirmed that the letter had been drafted by Bhanuprakash and signed by the concerned, in the interest of the party. They however said they had not released it to the media.

The disgruntled leaders want Yeddyurappa to take everyone into confidence, review the appointment of office bearers and functionaries made by him, duly accommodating senior party activists with proven track record. They also seek withdrawal of show cause notices slapped on Sogadu Shivanna and M B Nandish and lift suspension of Hanumanthappa, who happened to be president of Honnali unit of the party.

Yeddyurappa feels that it was not proper on the part of the concerned to release the letter to the media. He reiterated that the party members have the liberty to raise all the issues at the core committee meeting being held at Belagavi for two days from January 21, and asked the activists to approach BJP national president if they have any grievances against him. He also said that he will not submit to the demand to review appointment of office bearers of the party made by him earlier.