BANGALORE: Wednesday’s High Court judgment clearing former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa of corruption charges in the illegal mining case has renewed the tussle for leadership in the state BJP. While Yeddyurappa’s supporters wasted no time in demanding his reinstatement, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda seemed to be in no mood to relinquish his post for his predecessor. Even as Yeddyurappa’s supporters piled pressure on the central leaders by reminding them of the promise they made to reinstate Yeddyurappa once he is cleared of charges, Sadananda Gowda in Mumbai indicated that he will not make way for Yeddyurappa, saying serious cases were pending against him.
“There are several cases pending against him...total eight cases are pending (against him),” Gowda said on the sidelines of a function in Mumbai. He said that the pending cases are “severe matters” pertaining to issues like illegal land conversion and de-notification. Gowda added that it was for the party’s central leadership to take a call on who should lead in the state.