The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, is sticking to his guns as far as the next Chief Minister nominee is concerned and has garnered the support of a large number of MLAs and MPs.
The move is purportedly a bid to embarrass the visiting BJP emissaries, who were keen to get his resignation first. But factions supporting Mr Yeddyurappa forced the party to postpone its legislative party meeting, and the selection of the new Chief Minister.
On a day full of twists and turns in Karnataka politics, Mr Yeddyurappa, who has been named in the Karnataka Lokayukta's mining report, managed to push forward the script that would help him gain the upper hand.
Earlier in the day, Mr Yeddyurappa's supporters shouted slogans against the BJP emissaries and even resorted to booing Mr Arun Jaitley and Mr Rajnath Singh.
A glum-faced Mr Singh gave evasive answers to the press when asked if Mr Yeddyurappa was pressing for a Chief Minister of his choice. It was clear that the emissaries had failed to convince a majority of the BJP Legislative Party members on the reason why they needed a change.
Mr Yeddyurappa in a release on Thursday night said, “The month of Ashada (considered inauspicious) will be over on July 30. I will be tendering my resignation as Chief Minister on the forenoon of July 31.”
Though Mr Yeddyurappa had agreed to quit according to the party's instructions last night, the situation changed this morning as the legislators and MPs supporting him grew in number.
A section of MLAs publicly said they would appeal to the central leadership to allow Mr Yeddyurappa to continue as Chief Minister. A few others expressed displeasure over the “unilateral” decision of asking Mr Yeddyurappa to quit without consulting them.
Mr D.B. Chandre Gowda, MP, said, “Karnataka BJP MPs are of the unanimous opinion that Yeddyurappa should not resign. He is not an individual. He is an institution as CM. He should have taken the opinion of all elected representatives. We appeal to the high command to reconsider.”
Reddys' claim
The Reddy brothers, powerful ministers from mineral-rich Bellary who are also indicted in the Lokayukta report, claimed innocence and took a dig against the Lokayukta, alleging that their indictment in the report was without verifying documents. They claimed they ‘did not' indulge in illegal mining.
Mr Karunakara Reddy — the elder of the Reddy brothers, who had threatened to file a defamation suit against the Lokayukta, Mr Justice S. Hegde, if he did not tender an apology — submitted documents supporting their claims to the Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj.