Narayan Swamy
Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Mar 21: Former CM B S Yeddyurappa's 'pressure' tactics seem to have backfired on him and on his supporting MLAs, as his entire army, claimed by themselves as '65 MLAs', have decided to attend the budget session to be held on Wednesday, March 21 in the state assembly.
According to Basavaraj Bommai, Yeddyurappa's close aide, this decision was taken considering the budget and to enure smooth running of the session. "We are not a split group or anti-party, but we only wanted to prove our strength to the high command. We have the support of 65 MLAs, and all have signed the letter of support which has been faxed to national BJP chief Nitin Gadkari."
It is reliably learnt that Yeddyurappa has agreed for only a temporary truce with BJP central leadership, and that after the budget session and the Rajya Sabha election on March 30, he will once again put his demand before the party leadership. He has reportedly demanded that Arun Jaitley, senior BJP leader in New Delhi, instruct state BJP president K Eshwarappa to call for state BJP legislative party meeting. As per his demands, a day before calling the meeting CM Sadananda Gowda must resign, and any member who enjoys the majority support of MLAs must be sworn in as chief minister.
But on the other hand, sources from BJP high command said that Nitin Gadkari has warned the MLAs in Golden Palm Resort and told them to get back to work or face the music of expulsion. The indirect warning from Gadkari may have prompted Yeddyurappa to change his decision and send his MLA supporters to the budget session on March 21.
According to midnight reports from New Delhi, Gadkari has also warned B J Puttaswamy and told him to withdraw his 'rebel' nomination from Rajya Sabha seat. He strictly warned Yeddyurappa group stating, "There will be no talk with Yeddyurappa until Puttaswamy withdraws his nomination."
Puttaswamy, political secretary of Yeddyurappa when in power, is known as his close aide, and his nomination is an important part of the pressure tactics of his group to bend BJP central leadership.
An almost clear picture of the political situation in Karnataka is expected to be out after the Udupi-Chikmaglur poll result on Wednesday March 21.
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