The ruling BJP in Karnataka plunged into a crisis on Sunday with
former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa intensifying his power struggle by
claiming support of over half of the party MLAs and demanding that the
central leadership convene a legislature party meet within 48 hours.
“Wait for 48 hours. It is not a deadline. I am sure the party leadership will take a decision,” he said, apparently indicating that the BJP leadership will have to take a call on his demand for reinstating him as Chief Minister before his successor D V Sadananda Gowda presents his maiden Budget in the Assembly on March 21. He was talking to reporters after holding a meeting with his supporters at his residence here.
“Fifty-five legislators are here today. Fifteen more will join tomorrow. I am confident that the BJP central leadership will take note of all these developments and take an appropriate decision as soon as possible,” said Yeddyurappa, who is making a renewed bid to get the party to reinstate him as Chief Minister.
The BJP has a strength of 120 legislators, including the Speaker, in the 224-member Assembly.
At the meeting, Yeddyurappa loyalists decided to submit a memorandum to BJP president Nitin Gadkari seeking a legislature party meeting. The BJP Karnataka strongman, who is keen on presenting the Budget himself, has set the new deadline hoping to regain the lost chair, even as the state unit party president K S Eswarappa firmly ruled out change of guard.
Amid the crisis, Chief Minister Gowda celebrated his 59th birthday on a low key and declared he would present the Budget. Gowda ducked a query on the leadership change demand by Yeddyurappa faction, saying, “It will be decided by central leadership.”
“Wait for 48 hours. It is not a deadline. I am sure the party leadership will take a decision,” he said, apparently indicating that the BJP leadership will have to take a call on his demand for reinstating him as Chief Minister before his successor D V Sadananda Gowda presents his maiden Budget in the Assembly on March 21. He was talking to reporters after holding a meeting with his supporters at his residence here.
“Fifty-five legislators are here today. Fifteen more will join tomorrow. I am confident that the BJP central leadership will take note of all these developments and take an appropriate decision as soon as possible,” said Yeddyurappa, who is making a renewed bid to get the party to reinstate him as Chief Minister.
The BJP has a strength of 120 legislators, including the Speaker, in the 224-member Assembly.
At the meeting, Yeddyurappa loyalists decided to submit a memorandum to BJP president Nitin Gadkari seeking a legislature party meeting. The BJP Karnataka strongman, who is keen on presenting the Budget himself, has set the new deadline hoping to regain the lost chair, even as the state unit party president K S Eswarappa firmly ruled out change of guard.
Amid the crisis, Chief Minister Gowda celebrated his 59th birthday on a low key and declared he would present the Budget. Gowda ducked a query on the leadership change demand by Yeddyurappa faction, saying, “It will be decided by central leadership.”
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