Zeenews Bureau
Bangalore: Dismissing the demand of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Nitin Gadkari on Friday made it clear that the party is not in favour of any change in leadership in Karnataka.
Yeddyurappa is reported to have set a Feb 27 deadline for the party's central leaders to decide on his demand for reinstatement as CM or officially declared the supreme leader of the party in the state.
However, the party high command, though sympathetic towards Yeddyurappa’s plight, appears in no mood to bow down to pressure tactics being employed by him.
As per reports, Gadkari has made it clear to Yeddyurappa that DV Sadananda Gowda would continue to be the Chief Minister, at least till his name is cleared of the corruption charges. As far as the issue of him getting a ‘suitable post’, justice would be done to him soon, Gadkari reportedly told the Shimoga strongman.
Gadkari who was in Bangalore to chair take part in a 'chintan-manthan' or brainstorming session with legislators, held a series of meeting to find a way out of the sudden rebellion by Yeddyurappa.
Yeddyurappa, who met Gadkari at a hotel for about 20 minutes, left the place without talking to the media.
The BJP chief also had separate meetings with Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, state BJP chief KS Eshwarappa and other leaders before all of them headed to a resort on the city's outskirts for the ‘chintan baithak’.
The session has been called to tell legislators and party leaders the importance of morality and discipline following the involvement of three ministers, Laxman Savadi, CC Patil and J Krishna Palemar in porn viewing in the Assembly Feb 7. They resigned the next day.
All party legislators, parliament members and several party functionaries are attending the session. Yeddyurappa is also participating in the session. Ahead of Friday's meetings, Yeddyurappa hosted a luncheon meeting here Thursday to demonstrate support for him in the state unit.
February 27 is his birthday and his supporters plan a big bash where he may announce his plan of action if party does not accept the demands.
Yeddyurappa, the BJP's first chief minister in southern India, quit July 31 last year over corruption charges. BJP came to power for the first time in Karnataka in May 2008. Assembly polls are due early next year.
First Published: Friday, February 24, 2012, 12:01