New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister
B S Yeddyurappa was today summoned to New Delhi by BJP
leadership after the revolt against him by party dissidents
demanding his removal showed no signs of dying down.
Yeddyurappa said he was leaving for the national Capital
tomorrow evening, as the dissidents led by the Reddy brothers
--his ministerial colleagues--brushed aside BJP President
Rajnath Singh's assertion that he will continue as Chief
Minister prolonging the crisis.
"I will go to New Delhi tomorrow evening. I just now spoke
to (senior party leader) Venkaiah Naidu. He told me about so
many developments in Delhi. I will go and discuss it with
national leaders", he told reporters in Bangalore.
Asked if he was ready for a "compromise formula", he
merely said he would discuss with the party's central
leadership and "follow their advice".
Yeddyurappa however replied in the affirmative when asked
if he was willing to meet the rebels more than half the way.
Continuing their campaign for Yeddyurappa's removal, the
dissidents also pressed for some other demands.
"In the interest of BJP and the workers in Karnataka,
we need a very good leadership in the state. Whatever my stand
is, I am not not changing," Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy,
one of the Reddy brothers spearheading dissidence, told
reporters in Delhi after meeting senior leader Sushma Swaraj.
In Bangalore, his brother and Revenue Minister Karunakara
Reddy, described as "creation" of the media that Yeddyurappa
would continue.
Janardhana Reddy, who met Swaraj again in the evening,
said he would not not return to Bangalore till the demand for
removal of Yeddyurappa was met. He said the dissidents would
not go back on their demand.
‘BJP leadership backing CM, a media creation’
The rebel group
today claimed the BJP central leadership had not decided in favour
of continuing with BS Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister.
State Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy described as "lies and creation of the
media", reports quoting BJP president Rajnath Singh as saying
that Yeddyurappa would continue.
Talking to reporters here, Reddy said Singh had not told
them about it (continuation of Yeddyurappa) and a decision (on
leadership change) could not be taken within a few hours
(yesterday after Janardhana Reddy met central party leaders in
New Delhi).
After a meeting of senior leaders, Singh had yesterday
said "Definitely, definitely," when asked whether Yeddyurappa
will continue as the Chief Minister.
Asked if it would be agreeable for them if some
ministers were dropped, without change of leadership,
Karunakara Reddy said "that question does not arise."
"They (the party's central leaders) will talk to us;
they will invite him (Yeddurappa) for talks," Karunakara Reddy
said. "I am confident that they party's central leadership
would take a good decision."
On the support enjoyed by the dissident group, he said:
"We have what you want" adding "We are comfortable (in terms
of support of MLAs). There is no problem. We are all ready for
whatever change is required".
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 00:20