Bangalore, Jan 11 (PTI) : RSS today directed Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, former CM B S Yeddyurappa and state BJP chief K S Eshwarappa to bury their differences on the leadership issue and leave the matter to be decided by the BJP central leadership. Sources said the three were summoned by RSS leaders, who told them to bury the hatchet on the matter and focus on good governance and on ensuring BJP's victory in future elections.

RSS leaders present at the meet included Nara Hari, Mangesh Dende and Su Raman. After the meeting at BJP leader Lehar Singh's residence, Yeddyurappa told reporters the differences have been sorted out in consultation with RSS leaders.

"We will all work unitedly and go on state tours unitedly to strengthen the party in the state," he said. He also said BJP had assured RSS leaders that it would win 150 Assembly and 25 MP seats in future elections. Eshwarappa said BJP would follow the suggestions given by RSS leaders, but declined to throw light on them. The action by RSS comes in the light of Yeddyurappa's verbal sparring with Eshwarappa on the leadership issue.

The former Chief Minister apparently wants a greater say in BJP's organisational affairs. He is keen on being either made state BJP chief or reinstated as Chief Minister, the sources said. Yeddyurappa had launched a bitter tirade against Eshwarappa, alleging that the Kuruba leader was responsible for sending him to the jail.

He had set a January 15 deadline for the party leadership to arrive at a decision on the issue but the BJP top leadership is in no mood to meet his demands. Yeddyurappa's supporters have been lobbying for reinstating their leader in place of Sadananda Gowda.