In a move that could intensify the internal battle in the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, who lost the Nanjangud byelections as Bharatitya Janata Party candidate, has been appointed as vice-president of BJP State unit.
Interestingly, while the decision was made public on Tuesday, Mr. Yeddyurappa is learnt to have signed the letter appointing Mr. Prasad on April 26, a day before Nirmal Kumar Surana and M.B. Bhanuprakash, who are closely associated with K.S. Eshwarappa, were relieved of their party duties. Mr. Prasad, who was dropped from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet, had quit the Congress to join the BJP. His defeat in the byelections was seen as a major embarrassment for Mr. Yeddyurappa.
BJP leaders close to Mr. Eshwarappa are learnt to be unhappy with the appointment, especially as it comes at a time when serious internal difference in the party have come out in the open. They are expected to raise the issue with the party high command.
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Mr. Prasad has been given party duties, though he had announced his retirement from electoral politics after his defeat in the bypolls.