BANGALORE: The state BJP seems to be headed for another crisis with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his detractors at loggerheads over who should lead the state BJP.A day after Yeddyurappa, in no uncertain terms, made public his desire to come back to power and refused to accept the concept of “collective leadership”, a miffed state BJP president K S Eshwarappa made it clear to the former on Sunday that “Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will continue in office and no individual is greater than the party”.“In the BJP, the individual comes last. I don’t know what made Yeddyurappa think he is bigger than the party,” Eshwarappa said, while seeking to downplay Yeddyurappa’s remarks.“He is our leader. We respect his contribution. But he is an emotional person. He keeps changing his statements. I am sure his present stand will also change. Hence, there is no need to take his statement seriously,” Eshwrappa told reporters.Reiterating the need for collective leadership in the state, Eshwrappa said, “It was the party high command, particularly Nitin Gadkari, who stressed on the concept of collective leadership in the state. Everybody, including Yeddyurappa, should abide by it. We are only reiterating what our national leaders have said.”Reacting to the indirect threat by Yeddyurappa to split the party, Eshwrappa also sought to draw the latter’s attention to the consequences of triggering a revolt in the BJP by giving examples of former MP chief minister Uma Bharti and former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana.“Unlike the Congress, the BJP has a history of taking action against leaders facing corruption charges. Forget corruption, an FIR in connection with the national flag movement cost Uma Bharti her post,” Eshwarappa said, hinting that Yeddyurappa’s “come back” wish will not be fulfilled so easily.Eshwarappa exuded confidence that he and Sadananda Gowda will clear the air and resolve the crisis at a meeting with leaders in Delhi on Tuesday.
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