Belagavi: Differences in the state BJP widened on Tuesday with senior leader, K S Eshwarappa sticking to his guns and holding a mega convention of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade despite being warned against it by state party president and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa.
“The brigade's activities will never stop now. If the party issues me a notice for holding the convention, I know how to reply,'' Mr Eshwarappa declared after the convention took off at Nandgad, the birthplace of Sangolli Rayanna.
He seemed confident that the party would neither expel him nor serve him a notice for holding the convention. Meanwhile another top BJP leader from the state, who is at loggerheads with Mr Yeddyurappa, said that the Brigade's activities and conventions would not stop and another major convention was being planned at Kudalasangama on January 26.
Maintaining that a large number of leaders and heads of various mutts were supporting the Brigade now, he said it was not confined to any caste or creed.
Former ministers, Sogadu Shivanna, Ravindranath and former legislators Jagadish Metgud, Nemiraj Nayak and Somanna Bevinamarad and Anand Appugol were among those present at the convention along with seers from various religious mutts.
Mr Yeddyurappa had on Monday said the party had already instructed its leaders not to hold any convention of their own or attend those organised by the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. ''Those keen on holding the Brigade's conventions need to understand that the party recently held a convention of its own for backward classes. The high command will take stringent action against anyone, including Eshwarappa, if they participate in the Brigade’s convention,'' he warned.
