BSY: Didn’t ask for removal of Gowda

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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah inspects Kashmiri carpets during the inauguration of the fourth international buy

Former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday also climbed down from his demand that Karnataka CM Sadananda Gowda should be replaced. “I have not demanded his removal nor suggested any alternate name as his replacement. Our demand is for a meeting of the legislature party to discuss his complaint against five ministers,” he added.
Party sources, however, said the key reason behind Mr Yeddyurappa’s decision to hold off from quitting the party was the dwindling number of legislators in his camp. Though he claimed 40 more legislators had handed over their resignation letters, there were only 25-30 at his residence. The other key factor was the lukewarm response of the Lingayat maths.
A day after the Murugarajendra math swami advised Mr Yeddyurappa against the move, Shivakumar Swami of Tumkur Siddaganga math reportedly gave him the same advice on Monday.
While Mr Sadananda Gowda chose not join issue with his predecessor, Mr Eshwarappa said he would meet the former CM and sort out all issues.
The chief minister and the party chief met briefly at the party headquarters to discuss strategy for the forthcoming polls to the Legislative Council and chose not visit Mr Yeddyurappa and persuade him to remain in the party.
Meanwhile, BSY’s main trouble-shooter, state power minister Shobha Karandlaje, returned from Delhi empty-handed. The BJP top brass refused to meet her while reports of a secret assignation with the Congress also proved false.
The former CM said he plans to embark on a statewide tour soon and take a decision on his course of action on completion of the tour.
Mr Yeddyurappa, it was learnt in New Delhi, wants a leadership change in the state and a CM of his choice.
With the BJP central leadership not in favour of a change in leadership at this juncture, there was also talk of creating the post of deputy CM to pacify Mr Yeddyurappa.
Mr Yeddyurappa’s close associate, Shobha Karandlaje, his emissary MLC Lehar Singh and some MPs met senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley today to discuss the Karnataka crisis. Sources disclosed that the BJP top brass, including party chief Nitin Gadkari and Mr Jaitley, have been in constant touch with Mr Yeddyurappa ever since he threatened to quit.
To resolve the crisis, Karnataka CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda had met Mr Gadkari and Mr Jaitley on Sunday. Sources in New Delhi disclosed, however, that a majority section within the central leadership feels the crisis is likely to recur soon.