BANGALORE: Ahead of the BJP's February 24 brainstorming session, to be attended by national president Nitin Gadkari, Karnataka strongman B S Yeddyurappa is holding a meet of MLAs and MPs here tomorrow in his intensified bid to be the chief minister again or secure the state chief's post.
The factional feud in BJP showed signs of escalating with Yeddyurappa asking MLAs, MLCs and MPS to meet at his residence tomorrow to discuss the "political situation".
"I have asked all MLAs, MLCs and MPs to come to my house tomorrow. We want to discuss the political situation and ways to strengthen the party. The opinion that emerges will be communicated to Gadkari on February 23," Yeddyurappa told reporters.
Yeddyurappa, sulking since he was forced to quit as chief minister over his indictment in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, is reportedly unhappy with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who is emerging from his shadow.
Yeddyurappa, who had backed Sadananda Gowda for the chief minister's post after his exit, has been trying to rope in the rival faction headed by Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar and Home Minister R Ashoka.
Shettar, who also belongs to Lingayat community like Yeddyurappa, said, "I attended the meeting in Yeddyurappa's house yesterday and will participate in tomorrow's meeting too."
Gowda has admitted in recent days that there are minor irritants between him and his predecessor and that he hoped to resolve them through dialogue.
He blamed the media for reports that he was trying to divide the Lingayat community.