BJP backs Yediyurappa, change unlikely

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 18

BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh on Friday warned of action against violation of party discipline as rumblings within played out in the open during his three-day visit to the state, amid speculation about replacing Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Though Singh, who had earlier ruled out leadership change, did not make any direct comment on the issue, he is said to have made it clear at the Karnataka BJP core committee meeting that Yediyurappa will continue as the Chief Minister.

In a gesture signifying that things are in his favour, Yediyurappa, who did not make any comment on what transpired at the meeting on the leadership issue, flashed the victory sign as he departed from the state BJP office.

“The leadership issue was not discussed... Yediyurappa is our leader, there is no change in that. Our in-charge Arun Singh has asked me to make it clear,” Revenue Minister and core committee member R Ashoka told mediapersons.

Yediyurappa earlier in the day had downplayed the dissidence against him as he ruled out any political crisis in the state.

“There is no political crisis at all...what is happening is just because one or two people are saying something in the media, it is creating misunderstanding,” he said, pointing out that Singh did not even meet those involved in such activities.

Speculations have been rife for some time now that a section of the ruling BJP is trying to push for unseating Yediyurappa, despite Singh, party state president Nalin Kumar Kateel and other senior leaders ruling out replacing the CM and asserting that the 78-year-old Lingayat strongman will continue in the top post. This is mainly because of repeated open statements by some disgruntled legislators against the functioning of the government and its leadership, party sources said.

Despite being warned not to make open statements, disgruntled BJP MLC AH Vishwanath today once again demanded Yediyurappa’s ouster and levelled allegations of corruption and interference in the administration against his younger son and party vice-president BY Vijayendra.

Yediyurappa is no stranger to controversies and allegations. In 2011, he was forced to resign as CM and also spend time in prison after being indicted in a scam, though later he was acquitted of all charges.

State Govt dismisses tender scam allegation

• The Karnataka Government on Friday dismissed the allegation of disgruntled BJP MLC AH Vishwanath that the Irrigation Department has readied a Rs21,473.67 crore tender in a hurry and without financial approval
• The government gave its administrative approval following the consent given by the finance department on December 16, 2020. PTI