BANGALORE: The near-crisis faced by the Government on Monday over the resignation of Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure B. Sriramulu has blown over, with the latter retracing his steps.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar and Home Minister M.P. Prakash held a discussion with Mr. Sriramulu on Tuesday, during which they reportedly gave him certain assurances.

"I have withdrawn my resignation," Mr. Sriramulu told The Hindu.

He said that he had sent his resignation in the prescribed format, but the Chief Minister's office has denied having received it.

Sources in Janata Dal (Secular) said that the Minister's threat to resign was apparently a fallout of the growing animosity between two leaders of the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) in Bellary district.

Later, Mr. Sriramulu called on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy who assured him that his interests would be taken care of by the Government.

`Small problem'

The Chief Minister told The Hindu that " it is a small problem and it has been ironed out. Such things do happen when the atmosphere gets surcharged. It is all part of the problems we have to face while running a coalition Government. I have convinced him and told him to refrain from taking such drastic action".

Mr. Kumaraswamy deputed Mr. Sriramulu to represent the Government and place a wreath on the body of the seer of Rajanahalli who was killed in an accident near Harihar on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister spoke to his Political Secretary and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA Suryanarayan Reddy whose resignation has been demanded by the Sriramulu group.

The group includes BJP MLC Janardhan Reddy who has levelled bribery charges against Mr. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Prakash and the Minister for Forests C. Channigappa.

Leaders of Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP in Bellary district have not been seeing eye to eye for over a year. Despite the animosity between the two parties in the district, political leaders were virtually compelled to maintain a semblance of unity since the two parties were running the Government together.

Law and order

Although Mr. Sriramulu said he had tendered his resignation following the poor law and order situation in Bellary district, it was pointed out that his main demand at the meeting with senior leaders of the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday was the removal of Mr. Reddy and the transfer of Bellary district Additional Superintendent of Police D.C. Rajappa.

With regard to the second demand, the Home Minister has given him assurance to look into the matter.

The latest round of spat between some BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders of Bellary district reportedly surfaced after the appointment of Mr. Reddy as Chief Minister's political secretary.

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