The BJP high command on Friday summoned Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and State unit president K.S. Eshwarappa to Goa to discuss the fallout of the verdict of the Karnataka High Court clearing the former Chief Minister, B S. Yeddyurappa, of corruption charges made in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
Goa was chosen for the meeting as the party's leaders including president Nitin Gadkari had arrived there to participate in the swearing-in of the newly elected BJP government in the State.
A delegation from the Yeddyurappa camp including Ministers Shobha Karandlaje and Basavaraj Bommai also rushed to Goa after coming to know that Mr. Gowda and Mr. Eshwarappa had been summoned there. But the high command is said to have ruled out immediate leadership change in Karnataka even as the Yeddyurappa camp has been pressing for reappointment of its leader in the wake of his getting a clean chit from the court.
The high command, according to BJP sources, is of the view that an assessment of the legal and political impact of the court verdict would require time.
Though initially the judgment was viewed as a complete victory for Mr. Yeddyurappa, some leaders are learnt to have raised apprehensions what would happen if the verdict is challenged before the Supreme Court.
Some others are apprehensive of the Central Empowered Committee recommending a CBI probe against Mr. Yeddyurappa. They are also concerned that other cases pending against him are equally serious.
