The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has set a February 27 deadline for the party leadership to decide on reinstating him as Chief Minister.
According to sources, Mr. Yeddyurappa has threatened to decide on his political future on his birthday, February 27, if a “satisfactory” decision is not taken to reinstate him.
Mr. Yeddyurappa reportedly made this statement at a meeting of party legislators and MPs over lunch hosted by him at his residence here on Thursday ahead of the two-day brainstorming session to be held by the party in the presence of national president Nitin Gadkari from Friday.
Party leaders, including State unit president K.S. Eshwarappa, are learnt to have pacified Mr. Yeddyurappa and assured him that they would discuss all political issues with Mr. Gadkari.
‘No change in stand'
However, the BJP high command is learnt to have decided to ignore the deadline set by Mr. Yeddyurappa. “There is no change in our stand that Mr. Yeddyurappa cannot be considered for the posts of Chief Minister or State party president till he is cleared of all the corruption cases against him,” highly placed sources in the BJP said.
“We are ready to lose the Government if it comes to that,” sources said.
The meeting convened by Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is now dead set against Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, lost its sheen as several neutral members as well as those from the Chief Minister's camp such as Mr. Eshwarappa; Rajya Sabha MP Rama Jois; Krishna Bhat, MLC; and State party general secretary C.T. Ravi too attended it.
This not only prevented the meeting from turning out to be Mr. Yeddyurappa's show, but also embarrassed the former Chief Minister as some of them aired their views against Mr. Yeddyurappa's demand for reinstatement as Chief Minister.
Though 186 members, including legislators and MPs were invited, only 80 to 90 reportedly turned up for the meeting.
Sadananda confident
Mangalore Special Correspondent reports:
Mr. Sadananda Gowda, meanwhile, exuded confidence that the party would allow him to continue as Chief Minister.
Addressing presspersons at Mangalore University on Thursday, he admitted that there had been some developments that had caused confusion in the party. However, that had not deterred him.
The Chief Minister said the intention of Mr. Yeddyurappa in hosting a meeting in Bangalore should not be misconstrued. Such meetings had been held earlier. “We will host such parties in future also,” he said.