Bangalore/New Delhi: Dissidence on Saturday snowballed against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who indicated his willingness for a patch-up with the rebels gunning for him with claims of support of 60 BJP MLAs.
As the warring factions looked to the BJP central leadership for a solution, the Chief Minister, however, asserted he would not be removed and that he would visit Delhi on November 4 for discussions.
Yeddyurappa said there were no differences with Ministers
and mining magnates Karunakara Reddy, Janardhana Reddy and
their associates and Health Minister Sreeramulu who have been
spearheading a campaign to oust him.
"If somebody has done anything in the grip of emotion...we
can change our stand in the interest of the people and
development...we can join hands", he said apparently seeking
to reach out to them.
Sreeramulu claimed that the dissidents had the support of
60 of the 117 BJP MLAs in the 224-member assembly.
The battle between the two sides is expected to shift to
New Delhi with the Reddy brothers likely to reach the national
capital on Monday to be followed by the Chief Minister on
November 4.
Speaker Jagdish Shettar, the rallying point for the
rebels, arrived in Delhi where Home Minister V S Acharya and
Karnataka's Special Representative Dhananjay Kumar met party
general secretary Ram Lal and discussed the situation.
Kumar claimed the party leadership has ruled leadership
change in the state.
Asked why he was not talking directly to Karunakara
Reddy to end the impasse, Yeddyurappa said "I have initiated
that process and it's also being done from Delhi. I have
engaged in that process".
But speaking to a news agency today, Karunakara Reddy said "when
senior leader Arun Jaitley has already summoned all leaders
for further parleys over the crisis to Delhi, where is the
question of holding conciliatory talks with anyone here"?
Yeddyurappa said Jaitley had made it clear that the issue
of change of leadership was not before the party high command.
Jaitley, in charge of party affairs in Karnataka, was rushed here to defuse the crisis triggered by the demand for change in leadership but failed in his mission after which the state leaders were summoned to Delhi.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said in Delhi that the crisis in the party's Karnataka unit would be solved "in a day or two".
Acharya too said "things will get resolved and Yeddyurappa would continue as Chief Minister and "certain hiccups" would be looked into.
Yeddyurappa, who appeared a bit relaxed today amid the
tense drama, claimed "there is no dissidence in BJP. The only
demand is that the assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar should be
given some suitable position. He would be a minister".
However, Shettar, projected by the rebels camp to replace
Yeddyurappa, dismissed the Chief Minister's claim, declaring
"my stand has been known already (on his refusal to accept the
ministerial post)."There is no change in it".
Shettar has also rejected the offer of Deputy Chief
Minister's post as part of conciliatory efforts.
Earlier today, Yeddyurappa flew to Kukke Subramanya temple
in Dakshina Kannada district to invoke the divine intervention
to "ward off evil forces".
Yeddyurappa said "my government is stable. We are going to
complete the five-year term" and ruled out plans to seek a
trust vote on the floor of the assembly.
Shettar, who remains firm on aligning with dissidents,
met RSS leaders and held discussions with them on
the developments.
Most MLAs in the rebels' camp were enjoying a holiday in
Hyderabad or Goa. Sources in the dissidents group said they
were ready for head-count to prove their strength.
"Central leaders are asking me why you are coming to
Delhi and why your MLAs have to come to Delhi", Yeddyurappa
said.
The Chief Minister's camp circulated a list of 85 MLAs
saying they were behind him, questioning the rival camp's
claim that their strength had touched 80.
Asked to comment on Bellary Lok Sabha member Shanta's
statement that Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje,
targeted by a section of rebels for her proximity to the Chief
Minister, was "responsible" for the current problems,
Yeddyurappa said all cabinet ministers, including herself,
have been doing a "good" job.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, November 01, 2009, 00:08