Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Thursday consulted his staunch supporters on his further steps, including the conditions he would set, after being told by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to quit immediately following his indictment by the Lokayukta for the illegal mining in the state.
Groups of the party held separate meetings in Bengaluru to chalk out their action hours after BJP parliamentary board decided in Delhi that Yeddyurappa must quit. Around 25 legislators, including ministers, considered strong Yeddyurappa backers, met at his residence in Bengaluru to discuss the next steps, party sources said. They said Yeddyurappa indicated placing several conditions for quitting and would convey this to party leaders later on Thursday.
The conditions include a say in naming the successor and Cabinet formation, they said. Mining barons and ministers, the Reddy brothers, met with their supporters at the residence of tourism minister G. Janaradhana Reddy in Bengaluru to discuss protecting their interests in the new ministry.
The Reddy brothers have also been indicted in the Lokayukta’s report. In related developments, Congress held demonstrations in Bengaluru and several places in the state demanding Yeddyurappa’s ouster.