The stalemate in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka continued with the dissident camp led by three Bellary Ministers on Tuesday claiming the party’s central leadership has not decided in favour of continuing with B.S. Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister.
Minister for Revenue Karunakara Reddy, who along with his brother and Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy is spearheading the campaign for a leadership change, termed as “lies and creation of the media”, reports quoting BJP President Rajnath Singh as saying that Mr. Yeddyurappa would continue. “The BJP leadership has not come to any conclusion. The leadership is holding talks with Mr. Janardhana Reddy today. Our decision on the leadership change is unchangeable,” Mr. Reddy said.
After a meeting of senior leaders, Mr. Singh on Monday is reported as saying “definitely, definitely,” when asked whether Mr. Yeddyurappa will continue as the Chief Minister. BJP senior leader Arun Jaitely, Mr. Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani held several rounds of talks with the rebel group and ministers in the Yeddyurappa government in Bangalore and the national capital to iron out differences between the rebel group and the Chief Minister.
Mr. Karunatakara Reddy, who held a video-conference with deputy commissioners of 12 districts, told press reporters on Tuesday that Mr. Singh had not told them about the continuation of Mr. Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister and that a decision on leadership change could not be taken within a few hours.
Replying to a question on whether they would be ready for a compromise if some ministers were dropped, but without a change of leadership, Mr. Karunakara Reddy said: “That question does not arise. We will spell out our stand after the party high command announces its decision.”
Asked whether they (three ministers) would resign if the central leaders refused to meet their demand for the leadership change, Mr Reddy said, “We have not reached that point now.” Stating that the party’s central leaders would discuss all issues with them, Mr. Reddy said they would also hold talks with Mr. Yeddyurappa.
Expressing confidence that the party’s central leadership would take a good decision in the interest of the State as well as the party Mr. Reddy said “We have not placed any personal demand or agenda. Several legislators are facing a lot of problems. We have briefed all issues to the central leaders.”
