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Karnataka logjam persists
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi/Bangalore
Party hopes to hammer out compromise formula soon
With the Karnataka BJP crisis deepening, hopes are now pinned on the party high command’s negotiations with Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar to break the impasse. The Speaker reached Delhi on Saturday evening. Sources said a ‘compromise formula’ that will unite the warring factions in the State Government, would be hammered out soon.
The party’s central leaders are expected to hold discussions with Shettar on Sunday to defuse the crisis that threatens the leadership of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa who heads the first BJP Government in the south. While Yeddyurappa has refused to quit, he has indicated willingness to ‘compromise’ with the dissidents and even ‘change’ his style of functioning.
‘Rebel’ leaders Tourism Minister Gali Janardana Reddy, Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy and Health Minister B Sreeramulu, did not turn up in the national Capital on Saturday although they were expected to arrive for the conciliation meeting. Home Minister VS Acharya and Karnataka’s Special Representative Dhananjay Kumar held discussions with the party organisational general secretary Ram Lal over developments in the State.
Sources said Yeddyurappa is expected in New Delhi on November 4 to discuss with central BJP leaders demands put forth by the ‘rebel’ leaders. While Arun Jaitley, the party’s emissary to Bangalore, made it clear to rebels that no demand for leadership change would be entertained, central leaders have suggested to Yeddyurappa that he accommodate Shettar in the Cabinet.
Talking to reporters in Bangalore, the Chief Minister showed signs of reconciliation when he said he was ready for a compromise with the warring factions (Reddy brothers and their associates).
“If somebody has done anything in the grip of emotion we can change our stand in the interest of people and development. We can join hands. I have initiated this process and it is also being done from Delhi,” Yeddyurappa said.
The Chief Minister denied there was any demand for leadership change and claimed that some MLAs were only demanding inclusion of Shettar into the Cabinet. “Yes, he will be in,” Yeddyurappa said.
However, talking to The Pioneer, Shettar dismissed Yeddyurappa’s statement and said there was no change in his stand. “I am going to meet central leaders in New Delhi and will brief them about the demands of most of the MLAs,” Shettar said in Bangalore before leaving for the national capital.
Meanwhile, leaders belonging to the Chief Minister’s camp circulated among journalists a list of 84 MLAs who were reportedly rallying behind him. Sreeramulu has claimed that the dissidents had the support of 60 of the 117 BJP MLAs in the 224-member Assembly. Over a dozen MLAs who were claimed to be supporters of the Reddy brothers have shifted their base to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Asked why he was not talking directly to Karunakara Reddy to end the impasse, Yeddyurappa said, “I have initiated that process and it’s also being done from Delhi. I am engaged in that process.”
Speaking to PTI on Saturday, Reddy said, “When senior leader Arun Jaitley has already summoned all leaders for further parleys over the crisis to Delhi, where is the question of holding conciliatory talks with anyone here?”
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