The discontent within the Bharatiya Janata Party district unit over appointing Rudre Gowda as president of the unit came to the fore on Monday with prominent leaders engaging in an ugly verbal exchange over the issue.
It may be mentioned here that, Mr. Gowda, a staunch follower of party State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa, had contested the previous Assembly election from Shivamogga constituency as a candidate of Karnataka Janata Paksha and was defeated by Congress candidate K.B. Prasanna Kumar by a slender margin of 278 votes.
K.S. Eshwarappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, who was in the fray as the BJP candidate was pushed to third position. Mr. Yeddyurappa had recently appointed Mr. Gowda as president of BJP district unit. It is said that Mr. Eshwarappa was upset with this decision.
Briefing a press conference here on Monday, Mr. Gowda said that he was pained by the statements issued by some BJP leaders that Mr. Yeddyurappa had made appointments to key positions in the party in an unilateral manner.
“During my appointment, I had met Mr. Eshwarappa thrice and had discussed the issue with him. He could have directed me then against accepting the responsibility. It is unfortunate that after I commenced discharging my duties as party district unit president, a section of the leaders have held my appointment as reason for the differences between Mr. Yeddyurappa and Mr. Eshwarappa,” he said.
He expressed displeasure that a section of the leaders of the party were trying to portray him as an outsider. “I am involved in the activities of BJP for the past 30 years and no one can question my loyalty to the party,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, former MP Ayanur Manjunath alleged that if BJP fielded Mr. Gowda as its candidate from Shivamogga constituency in the coming Assembly election, a section of the leaders in the party would join hands with Janata Dal (Secular) to ensure his defeat.
‘Uncalled for’
Meanwhile, S.N. Channabasappa, a follower of Mr. Eshwarappa, has reacted strongly to the statements issued by Mr. Gowda. Mr. Channabasappa told presspersons that Mr. Gowda’s statements were uncalled for and unbecoming of his position. “After Mr. Gowda took charge, party activists extended their whole-hearted support to him. By issuing such statements, Mr. Gowda is trying to create confusion among the party activists,” he said.
The allegations that a section of BJP leaders had hatched a conspiracy to ensure Mr. Gowda’s defeat in the coming Assembly election were termed as baseless by S. Dattatri, member, party State executive committee and a follower of Mr. Eshwarappa.
