Die-hard supporters of former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa are baying for state unit president and deputy chief minister K.S. Eshwarappa’s blood in the wake of a first information report (FIR) lodged against him by the Lokayukta police in Shimoga.
Supporters of Mr Yeddyurappa, including ministers and legislators, have reportedly petitioned senior central leaders of the BJP in New Delhi and even provided them copies of the complaint and FIR to buttress their demand for ouster of Mr Eshwarappa.
On Tuesday, two legislators belonging to the former chief minister’s camp met senior leader Arun Jaitley in Delhi and briefed him about the case registered against the state unit chief. They reportedly complained about “double standards” adopted by central leaders as no action was initiated so far despite a FIR lodged in Lokayukta court in Shimoga. They were irked that these leaders acted swiftly against Mr Yeddyurappa when the then Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde submitted his report on illegal mining in July 2011, but were keeping quiet as far was Mr Eshwarappa was concerned.
Sources in the state unit of BJP told this newspaper that Mr Jaitley heard the legislators, and informed them that he was aware of the Lokayukta police registering a FIR against Mr Eshwarappa.
He also told them that he was not happy with developments — internecine squabbles, groupism and doubts over indisputable support for chief minister Jagadish Shettar.
The sources said everyone in Mr Yeddyurappa’s camp were jubilant when they heard about FIR registered against Mr Eshwarappa.
These loyalists are also monitoring a plea submitted to governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj for permission to prosecute Mr Eshwarappa on grounds that he had amassed wealth disproportionate to known sources of income.
The move to demand action against Mr Eshwarappa marks a new round of squabbles between the state unit chief and the former chief minister, both of whom hail from Shimoga district.