Bengaluru, DHNS: The BJP high command on Sunday warned party leader K S Eshwarappa and others of disciplinary action if they continued to be associated with Rayanna Brigade, an apolitical forum to organise backward classes and Dalits.

BJP national general secretary in charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Rao told reporters that the party will neither support nor tolerate organisational activities done outside the party forum. Organisational activity done outside the party forum amounts to anti-party activity. The party will be forced to take disciplinary action against such people, he warned, without naming Eshwarappa.

This is the first time the party has issued a strict warning to Eshwarappa, who is trying to emerge as a backward classes’ leader by organising the brigade’s conventions. The warning comes following a recent announcement by the brigade to organise an oath-taking ceremony for its leaders at Nandgad in Belagavi district on December 6.

Eshwarappa started associating with the brigade a few months ago as he was reportedly sidelined by his political bete noire Yeddyurappa.

Asked whether the party will take action against Eshwarappa if he continues to associate himself with the brigade’s activities, Rao said: “The party is closely watching all developments. There will be a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ for everything. Action will have be taken if it is broken (sic),” he stated, adding that Eshwarappa is a senior leader and that he will understand the circumstances.

On seeking his reaction to the brigade’s plan to organise an event on December 6 in Belagavi, the BJP national general secretary said the party has separate wings such as backward classes, SCs, STs, women and farmers. All organisational activities should be planned under these party forums. Besides, the party has already declared Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate. All activities should be done under his leadership, he added.