BJP Mulling Karnataka Options, Yeddyurappa Rules Out Quitting
New Delhi/Hubli, Nov 20 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it was seized of the controversy in Karnataka and the central leadership was considering its options, but Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa asserted he will not quit over allegations of favouring kin with prime land.
"The party called him (Yeddyurappa), heard him and is seized of the matter," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.
He said that kin of the chief minister has already surrendered the alloted land.
"The chief minister (has) put forth his views. The national leadership is looking into it," Prasad said answering queries on Yeddyurappa's continuation.
Talking to reporters in Hubli after his arrival from Delhi, where he met the party's central leadership, Yeddyurappa said he will not quit.
He also told chief ministerial aspirants of his party and those belonging to other parties to wait for two-and-half years more, when elections to the state assembly are due, to realise their aspirations.
"There is nothing wrong in aspiring to be chief minister. But the party came to power under my leadership and it will fight the next elections also under my leadership," Yeddyurappa said.
"If after that party leadership decides that someone else should be chief minister, I have no objection," he said.
"I will go back to Delhi Monday for further talks with party leaders and our parliament members," said Yeddyurappa, who Friday night attended a marathon meeting of BJP central leaders that ended well past midnight in the national capital.
The meeting to decide on the fate of Yeddyurappa started around 10.30 p.m. Friday and ended after over three hours.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told reporters after the meeting that further talks would be held with central party leaders to arrive at a decision.
"The consultation was held by the party president. He will be discussing what he has discussed with them with other senior leaders in Delhi. A decision will be taken by the central leaders of the party after further discussions. As and when we have something to tell you, we will tell you," he said.
BJP sources in New Delhi said the chief minister is expected to meet senior party leader L.K. Advani as part of efforts to resolve the present "difficulties" caused by allegations of nepotism levelled against him by the opposition.
Party sources said a decision on Yeddyruppa is expected in the next few days but indicated the beleaguered leader may not be replaced.
The BJP's core group had met Thursday to discuss the developments in the wake of the opposition offensive seeking the chief minister's ouster for land scam.
The state government Thursday decided to order a probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into all land deals in and around Bangalore in the past ten years.
Ahead of his Delhi visit Friday, Yeddyurappa made his two sons, daughter, sister and her son and daughter-in-law to surrender the residential and commercial lands that were allotted to them on priority basis.
According to party sources, though the allegations against the chief minister had created "difficulties" for the party, he may not be replaced.
The sources said that Yeddyruppa continued to be the most popular leader of the party in the state and there was sympathy for him among a section of people who feel he was being targeted by his opponents.
"Removing him at this stage looks a little adventurous," a party leader told IANS.
He said that a formula is likely to be worked out where Yeddyurappa may be asked to be "more open and transparent in his financial dealings" and take steps to hold proper consultations so that the state unit functions as a team.
According to the party leader, Yeddyurappa is a tall leader of the Lingayat community and choosing an alternative to him is not easy.
"The options for the party for a change of leadership are not easy. The party has to look at the future repercussions of a change," he said.
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