Top RSS leaders will make a last ditch effort to resolve the leadership crisis in the ruling BJP which has virtually crippled the state administration and is threatening to destabilise the first government of the party in south India.
The meeting will take place at an undisclosed place in the city, either on Wednesday or Thursday. The agenda: Differences between former chief minister B.S. Yeddyu-rappa and party state president K.S. Eshwar-appa, Mr Yeddyurappa’s reported plan to rebel against the leadership and the problems created by legislators who have been issuing statements criticising senior leaders.
According to sources, the RSS is keeping everything associated with the meeting under wraps. The participants have been asked to be in Bengaluru on both days so that they can reach the venue of the meeting in five minutes. “We expect to have a clear picture of what is in store for the feuding leaders after this meeting which is being held prior to the visit of former RSS chief Sudarshan, who is scheduled to visit Karnataka on January 29. Based on the outcome of the meeting, Sudarshanji will decide whether to hold another round of talks or not,’’ sources said.
Senior RSS leaders including Maicha Jaydev, Dr Prabhakar Bhat, Mukund and Ravindra besides Sathish and Santhosh, who have been nominated by the Sangh to oversee BJP affairs, are expected to take part in the deliberations. Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr Eshwarappa and Mr Sadananda Gowda are sure to be there besides one or two senior BJP leaders. The meeting is expected to give a clear picture of where the state BJP is heading to, the sources said.
Sources in the BSY camp said Mr Yeddyurappa will attend the meeting and is likely to give a patient hearing to what other leaders have to say before explaining his stance.