Collective leadership widens rift in BJP

SHIMOGA: Declining to react to the statement of B S Yeddyurappa, who had reportedly said that the BJP should not go in for a collective leadership, and that it should go for a single leader as a family, Eshwarappa said that he would not make an issue out of this.“The decision of the party national leadership is final. As of now, there is no thinking on going in for single leadership. I hope Yeddyurappa too would abide by this decision,” he added.Regarding the expansion of state Cabinet in the near future, Eshwarappa said that it would happen very soon without committing on any date.The BJP state president reiterated that Independents would not have any place in the Cabinet.However, there is exists the possibility of considering them for appointments as heads of various corporations and boards which would be decided after detailed discussions with the party national and state leaderships, he said.