Reddys Maintain Demand for Change in Govt Leadership
BJP’s impasse in Karnataka seems yet far from a solution with the Reddy brothers, powerful mining magnates from Bellary, sticking to their stand that change in leadership in government was urgently needed and that the party should therefore place a good leader at the helm in its own interests.
“I have the support of a majority of MLAs in the assembly. Hopefully, in the interests of the party and in the interest of Karnataka state our leaders will make the right decision and provide a very good leadership for the state,” said Janardhana Reddy.
The remarks came following chief minister Yeddyurappa’s statement yesterday that “some ministers” – referring to the rebels led by Ministers Karunakara Reddy, Janardhana Reddy and Sreeramulu, who have been spearheading a campaign to oust him – were “fighting for the chair”.
It may be mentioned that Reddy’s emissaries arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to hold meeting with state BJP in-charge Arun Jaitley and present their opinions. Karnataka speaker, considered close to Reddys and camping in Delhi, sought to sidestep the issue, saying that his role was very limited.
“This is a crisis between the Chief Minister and the Reddy brothers,” he said.
Shettar, who belongs to the dominant Lingayat community like Yeddyurappa, has been propped up by Bellary brothers as their candidate for the Chief Minister’s post.
Meanwhile, a confident Yeddyurappa told reporters today that the BJP at the centre had assured him that it still supported his continuance as CM and that everything would be sorted out.
