Bangalore: Reddys Say No Differences with CM, But conduct Meeting of Dissidents !
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 6: The three Reddy brothers, who were persuaded by the party's high command to take part in the cabinet meeting held here on Friday June 5, announced  in front of the media that the Chief Minister (CM)Yeddyurappa is their undisputed leader and that there is no question of replacing him. Tourism minister G Janardan Reddy, who later visited Hubli to take part in a function, also sought to rubbish the stories of dissidence making the rounds. "All the ministers have good relationship between them. There are no disputes," he said. The Reddys were specifically urged to be present at the meeting, as the party wanted to show to the world that unity in the state government is intact, irrespective of the newspaper reports to the contrary.

The Bellary mining lobby convened a meeting of legislators close to them at their private house, 'Parijata' in the morning before the cabinet meeting and succeeded in sending a signal to the power corridors that they continue to be unhappy with the government. As such, the CM could not talk to them to pacify them, as planned earlier. Transport minister Ashok tried to act as a mediator to sort out the differences if any between the Reddys and the CM.

Ministers Shivanagouda Nayak, Balachandra Jarkhiholi, Anand Asnotikar, MLAs Narasimha Nayak, Beloor Gopalakrishna, S K Bellubbi, Sarvabhouma Bagali and Renukacharya took part in the meeting organized by the Reddys. It is said, the gathering was critical of the functioning style of the Chief Ministers and some other ministers considered close to him. The MLAs expressed the opinion that the CM does not care for them and that the development of their constituencies is not being given any importance.

It is said, some of them expressed unhappiness at a few ministers who while away their time in appeasing and keeping the CM in good humour. Therefore, their departments have not been doing significant work. There is a need to drop them from the ministry, it was felt. It is understood, the Reddys expressed these feelings at the cabinet meeting too.

During his visit to the Vidhan Soudha to head the cabinet meeting, Yeddyurappa said that the dissidence in the government was an unnecessary creation and said, the ministers are united. "Out only attention is towards the development of the state. We do not want to lend an ear to rumours," he added.

In the meanwhile, BJP sources said that the party's national general secretary Arun Jaitley will be arriving in the city on Wednesday June 10 to hold consultations with the disgruntled MLAs and ministers and draft a concilliatory plan to address their grievances.