In an attempt to resolve the crisis in its Karnataka unit, BJP’s top leaders will meet here this evening to take a view on the leadership issue in the state in the wake of dissidence against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Dissident leader Janardhan Reddy, who arrived here this morning, met party general secretaries Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, seeking a “better leadership” in Karnataka.
After the hour-long meeting, Mr. Jaitley said Mr. Reddy had expressed his views on the situation that has developed in Karnataka.
“We heard him (Reddy) seriously. The Central leadership will meet this evening and discuss the issue based on his views,” he said.
Mr. Jaitley said all MLAs and ministers have expressed their views and whatever assessment they have arrived at will be presented at the meeting this evening.
To a question, he said party President Rajnath Singh will decide who will attend the meeting.
Mr. Reddy, who along with his brother G Karunakar Reddy, is spearheading the revolt against Mr. Yeddyurappa, said, “We have requested (the central leadership) to provide a better leadership in Karnataka.”
He said he had “100 per cent hope” that the party high command will “provide a very good leader in the interest of Karnataka” and every BJP member in the state.
“Our party leaders will be taking the right decision....
It will be in the interest of the party, in the interest of Karnataka to provide a very good leadership to the state,” said Reddy on his arrival earlier.
Mr. Yeddyurappa became the chief minister of Karnataka on May 30 last year, heading the first BJP government in South India.
Prior to last year’s Assembly polls, BJP shared power with JD(S) in a coalition government.
Jaitley dismissed reports in media that Ananth Kumar, a senior leader from Karnataka, was fuelling dissidence.
“The reports are completely baseless. Ananth Kumar is General Secretary and a senior leader and it is his job to meet leaders of Karnataka. He has met them separately also,” Mr. Jaitley told reporters.
Former MP Dhananjay Kumar, who is an emissary of Mr. Yeddyurappa, said the central leadership is firm on maintaining the status quo and not yielding to the pressure of the dissidents.
Referring to reports that dissidents had the backing of Mr. Ananth Kumar, Mr. Kumar said, “We don’t believe that. We are confident that he is also involved in finding a solution to the problem.”
He also denied involvement of the Congress in the rebellion, saying, “Congress unit, at least in Karnataka, does not see eye-to-eye with the Reddy brothers.”
The pro-Yeddyurappa camp met various central leaders on Sunday and claimed the latter did not want a leadership change but would look into other grievances of the dissidents.
