It is breakfast at Udasi’s for Yeddyurappa camp

He changes plans for MLAs as BJP remains firm on expulsion

Sticking to its stand of initiating disciplinary action against the legislators who may attend the Haveri rally being organised by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on December 9, the Bharatiya Janata party has decided to expel such MLAs from the party. Such an action would lead to dissolution of the Assembly if a sizeable number of them attend the event. Expelling a large number would reduce the BJP to a minority position.

“We will not directly opt for dissolution of the Assembly. But our action may lead to such a situation if a large number of MLAs attend the event, as there is no compromise in our stand to expel them from the party,” sources in the BJP said. The party had already sent this message to its legislators during a recent meeting in Bangalore.

Re-working strategy

Interestingly, as the BJP is tightening its screws, Mr. Yeddyurappa appears to be relenting.

This is clear from the way his camp is changing its plans and strategies. Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is holding the rally to mark the occasion of his donning the mantle of State head of the Karnataka Janata Paksha, is learnt to have told the MLAs from his camp to attend a breakfast meeting to be held at the residence of his close aide and Minister C.M. Udasi in Haveri instead of attending the rally. However, his other supporters would attend the rally to be held later.

According to his camp, attending a breakfast meeting hosted by a Minister would not tantamount to violating party discipline. And, they can still claim that they have the support of a sizeable number of MLAs.

However, only on Tuesday, his camp had claimed that a large number of MLAs would attend the Haveri rally.