As the political drama over selection of Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s successor reached a new high, supporters of the leader and his rival, general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, campaigned vigorously and even got into arguments over the election of a new leader on Saturday.
The CM’s supporters, who on Friday refused to meet senior central leaders of the BJP to give their opinion on the new leader of the legislature party individually, fell in line and spoke to former president Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arjun Jaitley at a posh hotel. A majority of Mr Yeddyurappa’s supporters drew the attention of these central leaders to the tainted image of Mr Ananth Kumar in an attempt to thwart his chances of becoming chief minister. They also demanded that Mr Yeddyurappa be made the BJP state unit president.
Minutes after MLAs loyal to the CM left the hotel, state home minister R. Ashok clarified to the media that Mr Ananth Kumar’s involvement in the HUDCO scam had not been proved as yet. The majority of the MLAs loyal to the CM reportedly said the central leaders should accept what the CM told them, adding that they had no other individual opinion. While the MLAs interacted with the party central leaders, Mr Yeddyurappa closeted himself with a few aides to explore the possibility of launching a regional outfit — the Karnataka Janata Party. “If the party refuses to give in to his any of his demands then he will move forward towards forming the outfit,” sources in the CM camp said.
Earlier on Saturday, party state unit president K.S. Eshwarappa ticked off excise minister M.P. Renukacharya and housing minister V. Somanna for levelling charges against party leaders and the Lokayukta, Justice N. Santosh Hegde.
The MLAs were brought in two buses to the hotel where the two central leaders were staying.
Mr Yeddyurappa’s supporters, who claimed the backing of 75 MLAs on Friday, seemed to have lost a few as the number who turned up for consultation was 46.
Though the CM was silent on when exactly he would tender his resignation, the party said he would resign at 1 pm. Mr Yeddyurappa is likely to visit Tumkur Siddaganga math, a powerful Lingayat math, to seek the blessings of Dr Shivakumar Swamiji. The other group maintained that the CM would tender his resignation at around 3 pm after which the new leader would be elected at the legislature party meeting.