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Yeddyurappa seeks action against rebels, 15 MLAs go to Hyd
PTI | Bangalore/Hyderabad
Troubles for Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa showed no no signs of ending with dissident MLAs shifting camp to Hyderabad on Thursday under the leadership of Tourism Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.
With BJP central observer Arun Jaitley camping in Bangalore to try and defuse the crisis, the Chief Minister hit back demanding action against the three of his Cabinet colleagues for openly attacking him.
But even as he talked tough against the dissidents led by three ministers--brothers Janardhan Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakar Reddy and Health Minister B Sreenivasulu--15 of the rebel MLAs arrived in Hyderabad.
On arrival from Bangalore they were lodged in a hotel near the airport in Hyderabad and access to it has been barred for journalists. Sources close to the rebels claimed five more MLAs were would join them.
Yeddyurappa, who had effected transfer of some senior officials in Bellary, the home of Reddy brothers, who have been attacking the chief minister on flood relief work, put up a brave face today.
"These people cannot cow me down. They are worried about my popularity graph", he told reporters here, as he hit back at the three ministers who had made a strong attack on him at a function in Bellary yesterday.
Yeddyurappa said he has asked the party's central leadership to take action against Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, both brothers, and Health Minister B Sreeramulu.
"The three ministers have criticised me at a function they held in Siruguppa taluk where they launched their own housing programme for flood affected victims. I am not scared of these things", Yeddyurappa said.
Saying there are "some elements" who are obstructing the pace of relief work in flood affected areas, he asserted "I will take stern action to rein them in and ensure that relief measures are not hindered", apparently targeting the three ministers.
Yeddyurappa briefed RSS leaders on the happenings at a meeting held at his private residence this morning.
Several Ministers and MLAs thronged Yeddyurappa's official residence in Bangalore and expressed support to him.
Yeddyurappa had planned to convene a meeting of ministers and MLAs loyal to him to demonstrate his strength this morning, but called it off on the advise of Jaitley, party sources said.
Yeddyurappa said "Our entire focus now will be on providing relief in flood hit areas. We will continue it. People are watching the activities of these people" (dissident ministers)."
"Cauvery", official residence of Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, whom the rebels have been projecting as the chief ministerial candidate, was also scene of political activity, with some MLAs calling on him.
State unit BJP President Sadananda Gowda met Jaitley and briefed him about his discussions with RSS leaders.
Gowda later told reporters that he would write to all three ministers to expedite relief work in the districts allotted to them.
In an action that angered the three ministers, Yeddyurappa had yesterday cracked the whip by abruptly transferring five officials, including Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Bellary district, seen as a move to strike at the Reddy brothers.
Yeddyurappa had also shunted out Health Department Principal Secretary I R Perumal, apparently targeting Sreeramulu, a close aide of the influential mine-owning Reddy brothers.
In a setback to Yeddyurappa, his moves to win over Shettar, a Lingayat leader from North Karnataka, has not met with success as he has reportedly turned down the offer of deputy chief ministership with a portfolio of his choice.
Sadananda Gowda called on Shettar for the second time since yesterday to persuade him to dissociate from the dissidents. "I have discussed several things with the Speaker. But I can't disclose them to the press," Gowda said.
He said talks were continuing and the crisis would be defused shortly.
Sources close to Shettar said he had firmly rejected the offer of deputy chief ministership and suggested to Gowda to hold consultations with party MLAs, as majority of them were unhappy with Yeddyurappa's style of functioning.
A rebel leader said on condition of anonymity that chances of bringing about a truce and resolving the crisis looked bleak at this stage as a spate of transfer of officials, reportedly 60, in Bellary has angered the Reddy brothers.
Sreeramulu, addressing the gathering in Bellary district yesterday, said "this is my last address as minister", but did not elaborate whether he plans to quit the ministry.
Firing yet another salvo at the dissidents, Yeddyurappa ordered transfer of some more officials in Bellary today.
Jaitley held second round of talks with Shettar but the outcome was not known.
Yeddyurappa also held consultations with ministers and MLAs loyal to him.
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