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Karnataka: talks at ‘delicate stage’

Neena Vyas & J. Balaji

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party was confident on Thursday that its Karnataka crisis was moving towards a resolution, but admitted that the matter was at a “delicate stage.” It could take a few more days to work out a solution, several senior leaders indicated.

Meetings were held throughout the day among senior BJP leaders themselves, between them and the rebel group led by Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, and between the central leadership and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and State unit president Sadananda Gowda.

Emerging from one of the meetings held at his residence, BJP president Rajnath Singh said: “Some issues remain to be resolved. Talks are continuing. There will be a solution soon.” He was not willing to say whether the issue would be sorted out in a few hours or in a few days. What he did add was that the matter raised by the Reddy brothers, G. Janardhana and G. Karunakara — both Ministers — was “not a matter of indiscipline.” In response to a question he stated: “The issue of change of leadership in the State is not before me.”

It seems that senior leader Sushma Swaraj, who is believed to have a good rapport with the two Reddys, was able to persuade them not to insist on a change of Chief Minister. It was conveyed to the Bellary-based brothers that the rest of their demands could be negotiated.

However, just when the BJP thought this was a major breakthrough, Mr. Janaradhana Reddy again changed his stand after a meeting at M. Venkaiah Naidu’s residence.

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