Bellary bypoll is trial by fire for BJP

BIJAPUR: Claiming that the BJP cannot be pledged to any individual, state party president K S Eshwarappa termed the upcoming Bellary byelection as BJP’s agni parikshe (trial by fire).Addressing party cadre here on Saturday, he said that the party was more important than the individual. He said that the BJP had come across many aya rams and gaya rams, in what could be a reference to former minister B Sriramulu.“However, the party has continued to grow in strength in the state Assembly and Council,” Eshwarappa declared. He claimed that such strange stances of individual leaders cannot survive for long.However, he agreed that a “temporary confusion” exists among some party workers locally which will be overcome gradually. “The time has come to send a strong message about the unity of the party,” he said. Eshwarappa said that the party established its base in the state gradually over time.“It all started with one member in the Assembly and then grew to 110.”