BJP says Yeddyurappa to stay on as Karnataka CM

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said B S Yeddyurappa will continue as Chief Minister of Karnataka.

“After consultations with senior party leaders and state leaders, the party has decided to continue with Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister of Karnataka,” BJP president Nitin Gadkari said in a statement.

“An environment of uncertainty has been created in Karnataka due to several allegations being made against Yeddyurappa. He has denied all these allegations and has offered his response to me and the media. He has also written to me giving his view point,” the statement added.

“With the panchayat elections around the corner, the party appeals to all its people to work for success of party. Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a commission of inquiry to look into the allegations made against him,” Gadkari said in statement. I shall take adequate assistance to look into the same,” he said.

Gadkari’s statement indicates that Yeddyurappa has been successful in putting off plans for his removal over the land scam.

The decision was taken after several rounds of discussions by the BJP top brass.

Yeddyurappa had been accused of misusing his office to grant prime property in and around Bangalore to members of his family.

The Opposition in Karnataka, headed by former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy had 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? (ANI)