I will announce my decision by evening: Yeddyurappa

The political crisis in the ruling BJP in Karnataka today loomed large with rebel leader and former Chief Minister Mr B S Yeddyurappa deciding to take a final call on his future political course by this evening.

“I will consult MPs, MLAs and my supporters today and announce my decision by 4 pm”, Mr Yeddyurappa, who has been fuming at BJP central leadership for “ignoring” him, particularly after the Supreme Court order for a CBI probe into illegal mining during his tenure as Chief Minister, told reporters.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who visited Siddganga mut pontiff Shivakumara Swamiji of the Lingayat community to which he belongs, attacked the BJP General Secretary Mr H N Anantkumar, the State unit chief Mr K S Eshwarappa, the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and the RSS leader Mr Satish.

He accused Mr Anantkumar of “feeding malicious information” about him to BJP leader Mr L K Advani.

“Mr Anantkumar made efforts to topple me from the Chief Ministership at least thrice earlier with the help of mine owners”, Mr Yeddyurappa alleged.

In a damage-control bid, Mr Eshwarappa today ruled out accepting resignations of more than half a dozen MLAs and dropping ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa.

“There is truth in the facts that about more than half a dozen MLAs and ministers have tendered resignation to Mr Yeddyurappa. However, the party will neither accept their resignations nor drop any ministers,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, MLAs and Ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa met at a breakfast meeting at his Race Course residence where the consultation process has begun.

Sources close to Mr Yeddyurappa claim that he has been toying with the idea of quitting BJP, a development that would threaten the survival of the four-year-old BJP government, the first ever in the South.

Eight ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa have already handed over their resignation letters to their leader.

In another development, the BJP central leadership has reportedly rejected Mr Yeddyurappa’s demand for change in the leadership of Mr Sadananda Gowda. The Minister for Power Ms Shobha Karandlaje, who was sent as Mr Yeddyurappa’s emissary to hold talks with BJP Central Leadership is, returning empty handed.

As a last effort to save the situation, Mr Eswarappa said the entire BJP was with Mr Yeddyurappa. Mr Eswarappa’s parleys with Mr Yeddyurappa yesterday have failed to end the crisis. In the 225-member Assembly, BJP has a strength of 120.

Mr Yeddyurappa claims to have the support of at least 9 ministers and 45 MLAs.

Mr Eshwarappa also said he has not received the resignation letters either from the ministers or the MLAs. “I have been in touch with these MLAs and ministers and I am telling confidently as the state party chief that they will not quit,” he said.

On Mr Yeddyurappa praising Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi and her party for being supportive of leaders facing trouble “unlike” his own party, Mr Eshwarappa said BJP leadership had never left any of their leaders including Mr L K Advani, Mr Narendra Modi, Mr Madan Lal Khurana and Ms Uma Bharti in lurch during the crisis.

The BJP leadership had always stood behind Mr Yeddyurappa and expressed hope that he would come out clean in the illegal mining case, Mr Eshwarappa said.

He also said he failed to understand the reason for Mr Yeddyurappa to praise Ms Sonia Gandhi and her party. “I would like to make it clear that all BJP leaders, including central leaders are with Mr Yeddyurappa,” Mr Eshwarappa said.

“I think Mr Yeddyurappa is giving such statements (praising Sonia Gandhi) out of pain. There is no question of Mr Yeddyurappa quitting the party,” he said.

Mr Eswarappa also believed the crisis would be resolved soon.

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