Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa seems to be taking on party president B S Yeddyurappa again.

On Thursday, Eshwarappa openly associated himself with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade and even addressed a press conference with the forum’s working president Mukudappa. Eshwarappa said ‘BJP loyalists’ have convened a meeting on April 27 in Bengaluru. If invited, he would attend it too. On Wednesday, he attended a meeting convened by former minister Sogadu Shivanna in Tumakuru, he added. Shivanna has been issued with a show-cause notice by the party for associating himself with the brigade.

“Some BJP leaders, including those who had fought against the imposition of the Emergency, are upset over certain developments in the party. The meetings are called with an intention of saving the party. I do not want to make a backdoor entry into such meetings. I am not scared of anyone,” Eshwarappa declared. BJP national president Amit Shah had clearly stated that the Brigade’s activities could continue. As per his direction, a four-member committee should have been set up by February 10.

The panel should comprise Yeddyurappa, RSS functionaries deputed to the BJP, Santosh and Arun Kumar, and Eshwarappa. It is supposed to address internal issues in the party. According to Eshwarappa, so far not a single meeting has been held. This sort of indiscipline should not continue in the BJP and it should not become like the Congress.

There should be internal democracy in the party, he said. He also said the Brigade has not stopped its activities. None would be invited to the meetings. Anybody including Yeddyurappa is welcome to attend them, he added. Eshwarappa said the Brigade is holding a convention in Mysuru on June 18. Prior to that, a women’s convention would be held on May 8 in Raichur.