Supporters of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa were upbeat on the issue of change of leadership following a tip-off that the leader in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, Dharmendra Pradhan, would arrive here shortly to gather the opinion of party workers on the contentious issue.
Sources in the party said Mr Dharmendra Pradhan and party national organizing secretary Satish would arrive in the city on June 28 to consult party leaders and workers on the issue, and to iron out differences among them. In fact, Mr. Satish has already held preliminary talks with state unit leaders regarding change of leadership last week.
The sources said with a majority of party MLAs demanding a meeting of the legislature party to discuss the leadership issues, senior central leaders had no option but to direct the Chief Minister to convene the meeting. The meeting, however, would be supervised by both Mr Pradhan and Mr Satish, sources added.
Sources in Mr Yeddyurappa’s camp claimed that the central leadership had assured that it would resolve the leadership issue in one week after consulting the leaders concerned. Irrigation and water resources minister Mr Basavaraj Bommai reportedly met party president Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur and put forth the demand on behalf of the former chief minister. On his return, Mr Bommai held a meeting with Mr Yeddyurappa, public works minister C.M. Udasi, excise minister M P Renukacharaya and other leaders at Jindal NatureCure Institute, where the former chief minister has been undergoing treatment.