BSY takes on party chief

BANGALORE: The fight for leadership in the state BJP intensified on Thursday with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa launching a scathing attack on state BJP president K S Eshwarappa, accusing him of hatching a conspiracy to throw him out of the party.“Eshwarappa has been trying to brand me as guilty by repeatedly referring to cases against me. He doesn’t seem to be content with my ouster from the chief minister’s post. He is trying to oust me from the party itself so that he could get the leadership,” the beleaguered Yeddyurappa told reporters.Mincing no words, Yeddyurappa also took strong exception to Eshwarappa’s repeated assertion that the former CM would not get any post in the party till he is cleared of all charges.“I had never approached Eshwarappa demanding the CM’s post or the state BJP presidentship. Yet, he is unnecessarily attacking me on the issue as if he is the high command,” Yeddyurappa charged while asking his friend of three decades to mind his words and not to denigrate him further.“This should be stopped immediately. It is not in the interest of the party. Eshwarappa should understand this,” Yeddyurappa said.Yeddyurappa’s outburst comes a day after Eshwarappa accompanied Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to Delhi to meet party top brass and reportedly sought their  intervention to checkmate Yeddyurappa’s attempt to return to power.The former CM has been sulking since his removal from the top post in July after the Lokayukta indicted him in its report on illegal mining. He also said he would soon undertake a state-wide tour and announce future plans after January 15. “This doesn’t mean I will tread my own path. I will continue in BJP and work for its strengthening as an MLA from Shikaripur. To build the party, one need not necessarily be in any position,” he said.Yeddyurappa continued to attack Eshwarappa throughout the day. On the sidelines of a conference organised by Karnataka Tourist Motor and Maxi Cab Drivers’ Welfare Association here, the former CM accused the latter of eyeing the CM’s post. In Tumkur, Yeddyurappa warned Eshwarappa against raking up charges. Eshwarappa, who is in Shimoga, was not reachable.