Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 28: The fissures between state president of BJP, B S Yeddyurappa, and MLC, K S Eshwarappa, seem to be getting wider with the passage of time. The contentious issue of active support extended by Eshwarappa to Rayanna Brigade has wedged the divide to such an extent that these two leaders seem to be heading towards different directions, which might affect the prospects of the BJP considering that Eshwarappa is a strong leader of backward classes.

BJP has formed three teams to undertake tour of the state to study drought situation. Eshwarappa's name does not figure in the lists of members of three teams. This apparently is a deliberate attempt by the BJP to snub the former chief minister for his defiant stance, taking into consideration the fact that being the leader of the opposition in the legislative council, his name should have emerged atop automatically.

The three teams are headed by former chief ministers, Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, with the third team being led by deputy leader in the assembly, R Ashok. A total of 46 party leaders of some eminence have been accommodated in these three teams. These teams will begin their tours on Wednesday itself.

Even as Eshwarappa was busy participating in a programme organized by Rayanna Brigade at Belagavi on Tuesday, party leaders held a press conference in the city and released list of tour itinerary. It is said that the party leaders want to give a clear message to Eshwarappa that his activities are not being taken lightly. A senior leader said that Eshwarappa, who is busy with Rayanna Brigade, has no time to get involved with party's organizational duties. In a wry remark, the leader who did not want to be named, added that Eshwarappa is too busy in strengthening the brigade and as such the party did not want to overburden him with more work.

Union minister for parliamentary affairs, Anant Kumar, refused to comment about exclusion of Eshwarappa from the drought study committees. When the press persons drew his notice to this issue during the press conference on Tuesday evening, he went away without giving any response.