Arun Jaitely to Check Growing Feud in Karnataka BJP 

Bangalore, June 11 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday sent senior leader Arun Jaitely here to sort out a bitter feud between the party's first chief minister in southern India, B.S. Yeddyurappa, and at least four cabinet ministers over his style of functioning.

"Jaitely met Yeddyurappa Thursday afternoon. He will also be hearing the views of other ministers and legislators," a BJP spokesperson said.

The differences between the chief minister and ministers K.S. Eshwarappa, G. Janaradhana Reddy, his brother G. Karunakara Reddy and their close associate B. Sreeramulu came into the open soon after the state government completed one year in office May 30.

The Reddy brothers, who are mining barons from the iron-ore rich Bellary district, are said to be demanding the dropping of at least six ministers, shunting out of senior officials in the chief minister's secretariat and a decisive say for ministers and party legislators in posting of officials of their choice in their constituencies.

Eshwarappa, who holds the energy portfolio, is miffed with Yeddyurappa as he believes he is being sidelined by the chief minister. He is also upset that Yeddyurappa's son was fielded from Shimoga in the recently held Lok Sabha polls ignoring opposition against the BJP allowing dynastic politics in the party.

Groups of legislators supporting Eshwarappa and the Reddy brothers have been holding separate meetings almost daily in the last one week seeking to mount pressure on Yeddyurappa to accept their demands.

They have also been seeking Jaitely's visit to sort out the problems with the chief minister.

Soon after his arrival, Jaitely met Yeddyurappa and his supporting ministers. He will also meet Eshwarappa, the Reddy brothers and legislators in his bid to ensure the dissidence does not result in the fall of the party's first government in the state.

The Reddy brothers were away in Tirupati, where Janardhana Reddy presented a diamond-studded gold crown, estimated to be worth Rs.450 million (Rs.45 crore), to the famous Lord Venkateswara temple, to mark his birthday.

Janardhana Reddy is the tourism minister, Karunakara Reddy holds the revenue portfolio while Sreeramulu is in charge of health.