BJP leaders meet to take a decision on Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa

NEW DELHI - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are presently holding a meet at senior party leader Bal Apte’s residence to decide the fate of embattled Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is facing corruption charges.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari is attending the meeting along with senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj.

The BJP Core Group is reported to be divided over the issue.

Earlier today, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said Yeddyurappa will abide by the party’s decision.

Speaking to reporters here, Naidu said: “Yeddyurappa has not defied the party central leadership and a decision will be taken after an exhaustive discussion with all senior leaders.”

“The party is discussing the matter. Yeddyurappa will be meeting all the senior leaders and also party president Nitin Gadkari. After holding discussions the party will take a final decision, he added.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa said: “Today, I am going to meet all our national leaders and I am going to explain the situation in Karnataka.”

Asked if he would step down, Yeddyurappa said: “I have not committed any mistake. I will meet the central leaders. Whatever they say, I will obey. But so far no body has asked my resignation”.

Talking about the charges imposed on him with regard to the land allotment favouring his family members, he said a judicial inquiry was already on in the matter.

Yeddyurappa had earlier rushed a team of his loyalists, including VS Acharya and Home Minister R Ashok, to Delhi apparently to persuade the BJP top brass against a change in leadership.

Shortly after his arrival, Acharya, who is Karnataka”s Higher Education Minister, told reporters, “We want Yeddyurappa to continue. There is no alternative to him. The BJP high command has not taken any decision”.

The party’s core group, which met in Delhi on Sunday, had authorised BJP president Nitin Gadkari to take a decision on Karnataka.

The emergency BJP Core group meeting comes in the wake of a new expose by former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy.

Hurling a fresh charge against Yeddyurappa, Kumaraswamy alleged that the latter”s family had sold Rs 20 crore worth of land and raised doubts about its ownership.

He also expressed doubts on whether the land sold by Yeddyurappa”"”s kin was owned by them or was it denotified in their favour. He sought clarifications from them.

“Is the land their hereditary property? Let them prove it”, Kumaraswamy said asking the BJP high command “does it have guts to sack Yeddyurappa?

Hitting out at Yeddyurappa for his statements that he would decimate JD (S), Kumaraswamy said: “Nobody can destroy our party. It is the people who have that power”. (ANI)