Eshwarappa, who has decided to contest as an independent against BJP's sitting MP B Y Raghavendra, invited the wrath of state BJP leaders after he used pictures and cut outs of Modi in his meetings. The BJP said it would move court seeking directions against it but Eshwarappa swiftly filed a caveat, setting the stage for further confrontations.

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After his fallout with the state leadership, Eshwarappa has been holding press conferences and meetings, criticising former chief minister B S Yediyurappa for reneging on his promise to give his son K E Kantesh a ticket from Haveri.

It has upset the BJP leaders including the state party president B Y Vijayendra, the son of Yediyurappa.

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Opposition leader R Ashok slammed Eshwarappa for using Modl's picture and warned him against using it as a backdrop during his diatribe against the state leaders.

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Vijayendra also urged Eshwarappa to refrain from using Modi's picture as the former deputy chief minister had gone against the diktats of the party. With their demands falling on deaf ears, the BJP is expected to file a petition on the issue in the Karnataka High Court on Monday.