Ahead of his meeting with BJP central leadership, which has summoned him in the face of a revolt against him, the Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Wednesday expressed hope that the impasse would end soon.
“All the confusion that has arisen now will come to an end soon,” he told reporters here as he left for Hubli en route to Delhi for parleys with the party top brass over the turmoil in the BJP’s first-ever government in the south.
Ignoring BJP president Rajnath Singh’s assertion that Mr. Yeddyurappa would remain the Chief Minister, the rebels led by mining magnets Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and his brother and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy were adamant on his removal.
“I will be meeting Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy in Delhi at the residence of senior leader Sushama Swaraj tomorrow”, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
Ms. Swaraj has been asked to negotiate with the rebel leaders to defuse the crisis threatening the 18-month-old government.
Three rounds of talks Ms. Swaraj held with Mr. Janaradhana Reddy on Tuesday have failed to break the imbroglio as the rebel leader stood his ground, saying they would not settle for anything less than removal of Mr. Yeddyurappa, whose style of functioning has come under the attack of the dissidents.
When his attention was drawn to Mr. Karunakara Reddy’s statement that the central leadership has not ruled out a change of guard, Mr. Yeddyurappa said, “What the high command says is important”.
Mr. Karunakara Reddy and Tourism Minister B Sreeramulu, a close confidante of the Reddy brothers, are expected to join Mr. Janardhana Reddy in Delhi on Thursday.
Mr. Yeddyurappa also said that he would call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to invite him for the foundation laying ceremony of an housing scheme being implemented by the state for the flood-hit people of northern districts.
“I want the Prime Minister to visit Karnataka once to witness the relief works launched in the state,” he said.
