Deviating from his earlier stance on the purpose of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, K.S. Eshwarappa, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and mentor of the outfit, has said that the organisation would focus on the development of all backward people and not just on bringing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into power and making B.S. Yeddyurappa the next Chief Minister.
He was addressing a district conference of the brigade at S.M. Pandit Rangamandir here on Tuesday. Mr. Eshwarappa had time and again repeated that the very purpose of floating the outfit was to mobilise backward communities into the BJP’s fold and making Mr. Yeddyurappa the next Chief Minister.
“Our aim is not just bringing BJP to power and making Mr. Yeddyurappa the Chief Minister, but educating backward communities and mobilising them for their own development. We will not confine ourselves to a party or a leader,” he said.
Referring to a high-level reconciliatory party meeting mediated by its central leader, Mr. Eshwarappa said that none in the party except Mr. Yeddyurappa was opposing his move of mobilising backward communities under the brigade.
“But, I successfully convinced the central leader who meditated between Mr. Yeddyurappa and me. He directed me to go ahead with the brigade if the backward communities are being mobilised under the leadership of religious leaders such as the heads of mutts,” he said. He added that he would never be expelled from the BJP for his active association with the brigade.
Keeping politics away, Mr. Eshwarappa dedicated most of his speech to issues being faced by backward communities such as poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. He urged people to make their own choices during elections.
“I won’t ask you to vote for a particular party or a person. First, you should get educated and make your own choices during the elections. With the formation and progress of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, I am getting changed internally to become more concerned about the development of the backward communities,” he said.
Other speakers, including the former parliamentarian K. Virupakshappa, the former KPSC member K. Mukudappa, the former police officer T.G. Sangram Singh, too spoke in a similar tone to project the outfit as an apolitical body dedicated to the development of the backward communities.
