Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 13: Leader of the opposition in state legislative council and former deputy chief minister of Karnataka, K S Eshwarappa, who is at loggerheads with the state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, on the issue of Rayanna Brigade, stayed away from BJP MLCs and MPs meet here on the evening of Thursday January 12. "I will not leave BJP even if someone strangulates me in an effort to force me to do so. I could not attend the meeting at Bengaluru, as I got information about the meeting held at the party office on Thursday evening, in the afternoon," he said, speaking to media persons at Shivamogga on Thursday. He also wondered why his participation in Rayanna Brigade convention in which people of his community will participate is being objected to, when leaders like Yeddyurappa, Anant Kumar and Prahlad Joshi attend meetings of their respective communities without any hesitation.

The meeting was called to entrust responsibility of handling the coming election from south east teachers constituency being held on February 3, which spreads over five districts to ensure that party nominee wins at any cost.

During the day, rumours ran thick and thin that Eshwarappa was planning to join JD(S). Reacting to the development, MLA, H D Revanna, said that polarization of politics is likely after Sankranti festival in the state. He added that decision about admitting Eshwarappa into the party is left to his father and party supremo, H D Deve Gowda. However, Deve Gowda said that he has not been approached on this issue, adding that being close friends, he believes that Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa will be able to sort out problems between them.

In the meanwhile, honorary president of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, S Puttaswamy, said that the Brigade will support only the BJP and no one else and that its activities will enormously benefit BJP and Yeddyurappa. He said that many downtrodden people who are not able to directly get identified with BJP will involve with the Brigade and indirectly support BJP. "We had met Yeddyurappa along with leader of Ahinda, Mukudappa, to invite him to the convention of the Brigade being held at Koodala Sangama. He said he would not be able to come, but clarified that he would not block the Brigade. It appears as though someone has created confusion in his mind," he stated. He said being a follower of Yeddyurappa, he had joined KJP and fought the assembly election. He felt that one to one discussions between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa would be able to clear the air of suspicion that has created this situation.