New Delhi: Top BJP leaders tonight grappled
with the crisis in Karnataka as a reported compromise formula
which includes the axing of controversial Rural Development
Minister Shoba Karandlaje showed signs of emerging as the
basis for negotiations with dissidents.
But at the end of a day of hectic rounds of discussions
to resolve the stalemate, it was not clear whether the
dissidents, led by Reddy brothers, were in any mood to accept
a compromise and give up their demand for the removal of Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
After a meeting of top leaders at the residence of L K
Advani, the Chief Minister gave up his plans to return to
Bangalore and instead stay here for consultations to end the
crisis.
Party President Rajnath Singh who also met with his top
colleagues declared that the question of removal of
Yeddyurappa was not negotiable, while Reddy rebuffed his
attempt to reach out to them saying "we will not meet the
Chief Minister at all".
Party sources spoke of a formula under which Karandlaje,
whose continuance in the Cabinet has been strongly opposed by
the Reddy brothers, will be removed and bringing in Assembly
Speaker Jagdish Shettar into the Cabinet.
The transfer of Chief Minister's Principal Secretary P V
Baligar is also another sop being considered to placate the
dissidents, they said.
Sources said that the Central BJP leaders may come out
with the formula tomorrow in the presence of Reddy brothers
and the Chief Minister.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 21:33