Yeddy-Reddy Issue: Dissidents Claim Support of 60 MLAs; Called to Delhi for Talks
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramula has claimed that the rebel Reddy brothers command backing of 60 legislatures and will leave for New Delhi on Sunday to meet party’s central leadership.
Though BJP general secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Jaitley has ruled out any possibility of change in leadership in the state, the Karnataka unit of the party will meet in Delhi over the weekend to patch up their differences.
After returning to New Delhi on Friday, Jaitely said that chief minister BS Yeddyurappa would continue in office. However, the dissidents continue to insist on his removal.
According to reports, State Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and his brother and State Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, their associate Health Minister B Sriramulu, along with Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, state unit president D V Sadanand Gowda and other rebel MLAs, have been summoned.
Confident of finding a solution, a beleaguered Yeddyurappa said, “The central leadership is aware of the differences of opinion that has surfaced among leaders in the state.”
He said that Jaitely had assured him of the smooth resolution of the issue is facing a fresh bout of dissidence led by Reddy brothers and their loyalist Sreeramulu.
Karunakara Reddy said that “problems faced by MLAs have been brought to the attention of central leadership.”
The state needs “an able and good leadership” to ensure that the BJP government completes its five year term, Janardhana Reddy said.
Jaitley held discussions on Friday night with Jagadish Shettigar, who has emerged as a rallying point for rebels who are trying to project him to replace Yeddyurappa.
The first BJP government in the south was rocked by infighting after the influential Reddy brothers renewed their dissident activities, breaking the truce brought about a few months ago when they first raised the banner of revolt.
Striking back at the dissidents, Yeddyurappa had ordered mass transfer of officials of Bellary district from where the dissident ministers hail, and hinted at action against the rebel leaders, further angering them. Yeddyurappa said the issues will be resolved.
