Supporters of BSY, KSE indulge in sloganeering

MYSURU: The differences between state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa and opposition leader in the council, K S Eshwarappa, spilled over to Mysuru as the supporters of the two senior leaders tried to outsmart each other.
While the two camps indulged in sloganeering, Yeddyurappa’s close aide was mobbed by Eshwarappa’s followers. However, police intervened and pacified the two factions.
Trouble started minutes after the party’s OBC Morcha chief B J Puttaswamy, a close associate of the former CM, checked into the city BJP office in Nazarabad to induct some leaders.Though Yeddyurappa was scheduled to attend the event, he did not.
While interacting with media, Puttaswamy said Eshwarappa is indulging in anti-party activities, much to the chagrin of a bunch of supporters of the former deputy chief minister. Puttaswamy said that Eshwarappa’s political moves will affect the party, which the latter’s supporters vigorously opposed. They argued that their leader is fighting to save the party, and arguing the case of leaders who have never quit the party. Claiming that the former MLC has no locus standi to speak about their leader, they said Eshwarappa has built BJP as the party chief.
Though Puttaswamy tried to explain his viewpoint and argue his case, he was not allowed to do so. The supporters also interrupted Puttaswamy while interacting with media, which was taken seriously by Yeddyurappa’s supporters. They raised slogans in praise of their leader which was countered by Eshwarappa’s supporters. As the sloganeering intensified, police intervened and separated the two factions. Some activists of the party suggested that the two camps not be allowed to speak about the confusion prevailing in the camps, pointing out that the two leaders are like “two eyes of the party”.
Later, Puttaswamy attended the meeting, but desisted from mentioning the controversy. He asked the activists to focus on party-building activities and to strengthen the hands of BJP chief Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi.
Former chairman of Mysuru Urban Development Authority L Nagendra said that local leaders should allow the controversy to be handled by the national leaders and asserted that it is time to work united to ensure that the BJP wins 150 assembly segments in 2018 assembly elections.