Those going to Haveri will face music: Eshwarappa

Even as the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has warned the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to desist from acting against Ministers and legislators who would attend the Haveri convention on December 9 if it wants to save the government, party State unit president K.S. Eshwarappa on Saturday made it clear that action would be taken against those attending the proposed meet.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the party office-bearers’ meeting here, Mr. Eshwarappa said that if any party legislators and MPs attend the Karnataka Janata Paksha’s rally, it would be as good as severing links with the BJP.

“It is like marrying somebody and living with somebody else. We will not allow such a thing to happen. If any of our elected representatives attend the KJP convention, the party will take appropriate action against them,” he said.

At the same time, Mr. Eshwarappa expressed confidence that none of the party’s elected representatives, including members of the zilla and taluk panchayats and urban local bodies would attend the Haveri convention.

“Mr. Yeddyurappa has threatened to bring down the government and has also made allegations against me. I can speak better language than him. But I am desisting from responding as he is a senior leader,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Indirectly expressing displeasure over Mr. Yeddyurappa involving himself in building KJP while remaining in the BJP, Mr. Eshwarappa said: “All the BJP leaders, including Mr. Yeddyurappa learnt discipline from the BJP. But how far it will be correct to indulge in indiscipline while remaining in this party?”

KJP’s challenge

Responding sharply to this, KJP State president and Mr. Yeddyurappa’s aide, V. Dhananjaya Kumar, challenged Mr. Eshwarappa to first act against the BJP legislators and MPs who have identified themselves with the BSR Congress of the former Minister B. Sriramulu.

The government would be in danger if the BJP acted against those attending the Haveri convention, he said.