The imbroglio over the leadership issue in Karnataka continues, even as several senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders supporting Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, descended here on Sunday and called on the high command to press for his continuation.
Tourism Minister G. Janardhan Reddy, and his brothers, who have been spearheading the campaign for a change of leadership, are expected to arrive late on Sunday and call on the Central leaders on Monday.
The pro-Yeddyurappa group called on the Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, and senior leaders Ananth Kumar, Arun Jaitley, and Sushma Swaraj, among others.
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Home Minister B.S. Acharya, Excise Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, Special Representative of the Karnataka government in the national capital and the former Union Minister V. Dhananjay Kumar, State party president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar, Transport Minister R. Ashok, and PWD Minister C.M. Udasi, among others called on Central leaders. Speaker Jagdish Shettar also called on Central leaders.
While Mr. Dhananjaya Kumar and Mr. Gowda told reporters that the Central leaders were against removing Mr. Yeddyurappa, Mr. Shettar declined to make any comment.
“We met almost all senior leaders of the party including Advaniji and they assured that there is no question of change of leadership in Karnataka,” Mr. Gowda said, speaking to reporters after the meetings.
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He also expressed confidence that there would be “good news” by Monday evening. “All the other small, small issues would be sorted out in a day or two.”