The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who recently turned his ire at the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Monday refused to meet senior party leader and former Union Minister Arun Jaitley.
Mr. Jaitley and Dharmendra Pradhan, both national general secretaries in-charge of Karnataka, are in Bangalore to hold consultations with party leaders from the State to solve various problems, including Mr. Yeddyurappa’s repeated indications that he would quit the party. They are also looking into the selection of a new president for the State unit and taking stock of the developments related to the sharing of the Cauvery waters.
Mr. Jaitley was expected to meet Mr. Yeddyurappa on Monday though the consultation process will go on till Tuesday. But hours after Mr. Jaitely arrived in Bangalore, Mr. Yeddyurappa left for his home district of Shimoga to participate in a programme.
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Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Yeddyurappa made it clear that he would not meet Mr. Jaitley. Maintaining that the need for consultations had not arisen, he said he would meet the party central leaders, if there was a need, when he visits New Delhi.
Meanwhile Deputy Chief Ministers K. S. Eshwarappa and R. Ashok met Mr. Jaitley on Monday night. Mr. Jaitley is scheduled to return to Delhi on Tuesday after participating in a programme related to hockey.