The Karnataka unit of the BJP appeared to be in confusion with the senior minister of state, KS Eshwarappa, writing to the governor and the central leadership of the BJP, criticizing the workings of the prime minister BS Yediyurappa.
Eshwarappa, who is the state minister for rural development and panchayat raj, has expressed deep resentment that Yediyurappa interferes in the financial affairs of his ministry without consultation and basically bypasses it while releasing funds worth millions of rupees for rural roads in the constituencies of a few legislators.
In his March 31 letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala, he cited several cases of “direct interference by the Chief Minister in the affairs of the departments of other cabinet ministers in violation of the Karnataka (Business Transaction) Rules, 1977.”
He cited cases such as the allocation of Rs 65 crore to the Bangalore urban zilla panchayat, which is run by G Mariswamy, a relative of Yediyurappa, for the development of roads without authorization from his ministry despite the amount sanctioned for the development of roads to the urban area of Bengaluru. panchayat is 1.17 million rupees.
Many differences over the years.
KS Eshwarappa has had frequent disagreements with BS Yediyurappa on political issues only to quickly resolve them, largely due to the latter’s influence in Shivamogga district. Both leaders are from the same district. In 2012, when Yediyurappa broke away to float the KJP, Eshwarappa, who was then the state chairman of the BJP, remained with the party. Two years ago, the two had a bitter fight over Eshwarappa’s efforts to create an OBC constituency for the BJP in their Kuruba community by creating a youth forum to commemorate the life of a community warrior.
“It is very unfortunate that the Honorable Chief Minister knowingly issued such orders while ignoring the minister in charge of the department. If this trend continues in the future, avoiding the minister and violating the rules, I don’t know what my position is as the minister in charge of the department, ”Eshwarappa wrote.
He claimed to have brought the matter to the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah, and other senior leaders.
The national leadership of the BJP, however, appeared to be upset with the minister for writing to the governor and making it public. According to a senior leader in Delhi, the party’s top leadership sees this as a serious act of indiscipline. “Whatever the purpose Eshwarappa has made, it has worked against him. It won’t do you any good. In fact, it will be a great loss for him, ”said the party leader.
Karnataka BJP sources said it has also demotivated party workers. “Eshwarappa has not waited for the response of the party leadership, raised the issue with the prime minister, the party chief and even the interior minister, nor did he consult them before sending such a letter to the governor,” said a source.
The sources said that Yeddiyurappa has been meeting with ministers and lawmakers to get their views on the issue. On Thursday, several MLAs and high-ranking ministers rallied around Yediyurappa in an emergency meeting. Yeddiyurappa is believed to have talked about firing Eshwarappa at the meeting.
State Interior Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is a close associate of Yediyurappa, said after the meeting: “I request Eshwarappa to meet with the CM and discuss this issue and resolve it. Ours is a disciplined party … It is not appropriate to bring this issue to the senior leaders of the party.
Eshwarappa, 72, who is credited with building the BJP in the state along with Yediyurappa and the late HN Ananth Kumar, is considered one of the staunchest adherents to the discipline regime instilled in his cadre by the RSS. never step out of line without the approval of top leaders.
On Friday, he said he was still a party loyalist, unlike Yediyurappa, who broke up in 2012 to form his own KJP team. “He left the party to create the KJP and did not look at us. He said he will not return to the BJP. I am a party loyalist and I see the party as my mother, ”Eshwarappa said, justifying his decision to write letters about Yediyurappa’s functioning as CM. “This is not a personal issue between the CM and myself, but a matter of established rules and systems. I am not a rebel and the problems will be solved. “
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