FLASH | Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | Email | Print | 
Crisis in Karnataka BJP continues
PTI | Bangalore/ New Delhi
Crisis in Karnataka BJP continued on Tuesday with dissidents persisting with their demand for the removal of Chief Minister BS Yuddyurappa, who said that the party leadership is evolving a "new formula" to end the stalemate.
Ignoring BJP President Rajnath Singh's assertion that BS Yeddyurappa will continue as Chief Minister, party dissidents in Karnataka on Tuesday continued their campaign for
his removal and pressed for some other demands.
The crisis in the first and only saffron Government in the south showed no signs of let up with the dissidents not willing to give up their demands and reach some sort of a compromise.
The BJP high command, which is not in any mood to give in to the demand of the Bellary brothers, heading the dissident group, on the Chief Minister's removal but is not averse to considering their other demands, reliable party sources said.
Their demands include whittling down of the powers of Rural Development Minister Shoba Karandlaje, who is in the eye of rebels' storm, transfer of some key officials and review of cess on lorries carrying iron ore, said to be hurting the interests of the mining magnates Reddy brothers.
A day after receiving full backing from the party's top brass, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday said BJP's central leadership is coming out with a "new formula" to end the week-long crisis following dissidents' demand for his removal.
Continuing his conciliatory tone, Yeddyurappa recalled the contribution of Ministers Karunakara Reddy and Janardhana Reddy, the two brothers who have been spearheading the campaign for a change of guard, during Government formation in May last year when BJP fell short of a simple majority and independents were roped in to back to BJP dispensation.
"Today with all humility, I want to tell you something... It's true that in some bad moment, some political confusion had taken place. When we were forming the Government, we needed the cooperation of Reddy brothers and they gave the cooperation," he told reporters in Bellary, the home district of the Reddy brothers.
"Thereafter because of some misunderstanding, there is some confusion. The party's central leadership is correcting this and they have spoken to them (Reddy brothers) yesterday. The problem is being resolved with (senior party leader) HN Ananath Kumar in the lead," he said.
At a meeting with the rebel leaders in Delhi on Monday, the central leadership decided to rally behind Yeddyurappa, credited with bringing the saffron party to power for the first time in the south, though the decision failed to satisfy the dissidents who remained firm on his ouster.
"Perhaps today, we are trying to resolve the issue by coming out with a new formula," he added but did not elaborate the issues to be discussed.
The rebels, sore with Yeddyurappa's style of functioning, accuse him of ignoring them in decision making.
A section of MLAs who have thrown their weight behind the Reddy brothers has openly sought removal of Chief Minister's Principal secretary VP Baligar and Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje.
Baligar has been accused by some MLAs of ignoring them, while the first time MLA Karnadlaje, the lone woman Minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet, has come under attack for her closeness to the Chief Minister and the "prominence" that she gets.
The dissidents persisting with their demand for the removal of Chief Minister BS Yuddyurappa, who said that the party leadership is evolving a "new formula" to end the stalemate.
Pressing their demand, the rebel group claimed the Central leadership had not decided in favour of continuing with Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister.
Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy, who has been camping in New Delhi, met senior party leader Sushma Swaraj as part of his oust Yeddyurappa campaign.
"In the interest of BJP and the workers in Karnataka, we need a very good leadership in the State. Whatever my stand is, I am not changing," he told reporters in Delhi.
State Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy, spearheading the campaign along with his brother Janardhana Reddy, described as "lies and creation of the media", reports quoting BJP Chief President Rajnath Singh as saying that Yeddyurappa would continue.
Talking to reporters in Bangalore, he said Singh had not told them about it (continuation of Yeddyurappa) and a decision (on leadership change) could not be taken within a few hours.
This is totally a media plantation", Reddy said when asked to comment on the BJP president's remarks on Monday that Yeddyurappa would continue as Chief Minister.
Janardhana Reddy along with his brother G Karunakara Reddy and B Sreeramulu -- all ministers in the Yeddyurappa Cabinet -- are spearheading the campaign against the Chief Minister against his style of functioning.
"BJP should continue to rule not for five years. The party should come (to power) again and again. Government should not be for five years. It should continue for 50 years," Reddy said.
He said he was hopeful that the party leaders would take a "very good decision" in the interest of Karnataka.
Top leaders of the party including its president Rajnath Singh met at the residence of senior leader LK Advani for two hours last night to discuss the crisis confronting its only Government in the South after Janardhana Reddy arrived here and conveyed the dissidents' demand.
Singh and Arun Jaitley voiced optimism that the crisis will be resolved soon.
BJP sources said the party was willing to discuss changes in the State Cabinet and transfer some officials as part of a compromise formula. This too did not satisfy the Reddy brothers' camp.
Yeddyurappa has convened a meeting of his cabinet on November six even as the crisis triggered by rebels seeking his ouster showed no signs of abatement.
Yeddyurappa's decision to convene the meeting came a day after the BJP central leadership signalled his continuance as the Chief Minister.
BJP President Rajnath Singh had on Monday responded positively to a question whether the embattled Chief Minister would continue in his post, saying "definitely, definitely."
The rebel legislators led by Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy, and his brother Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy are up in arms against the Chief Minister protesting his style of functioning and continued to gun for him.
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