Revolt in Karnataka BJP: Nine pro-Yeddyurappa ministers submit resignations

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Worsening the crisis in Karnataka BJP, nine Yeddyurappa loyalists submitted their resignations to Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Friday.

PWD minister C.M. Udasi revealed this to the media in the evening. Apart from Udasi, Jagadish Shettar, V. Sommanna, Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, R.N. Belamagi, M.P. Renukacharya, S. Kharandlaje and U. Katti are the others who resigned.

Earlier on the day, Yeddyurappa loyalist and MLA B.P. Harish claimed the 10 ministers, would hand over their resignation letters to Gowda this evening.

"Ten ministers will resign this evening. Our decision is steadfast," he told reporters, adding, the Yeddyurappa faction is demanding convening of a legislature party meeting and change of leadership if ‘it has more strength’.

The faction demanded that the party's central leadership take a call on their demand today itself, saying their patience was running out and they can't wait any longer. The central leadership has let it be known there is no question of change of leadership at least till the Presidential elections are over (July 19).

Ministers loyal to Yeddyurappa today held strategy meetings at the residence of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar, who is the faction's nominee to replace Gowda.

In-charge of the party's Karnataka Affairs, Dharmendra Pradhan said in New Delhi that there is no question of replacing Gowda for now as he is ‘doing a good job’.

BJP state unit chief K.S. Eshwarappa admitted that while one group of MLAs has demanding Gowda's replacement, the other is against such a move.