BANGALORE: The infighting in the ruling BJP over the leadership issue reached a flash point on Sunday with B S Yeddyurappa serving a 48-hour deadline to the party high command to decide on his reinstatement as chief minister.
To his advantage, over 55 MLAs, including a dozen ministers and more than half of the MPs from the state, are backing him, thus making Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s position weak in the party.
Interestingly, RDPR Minister Jagadish Shettar is also batting for Yeddyurappa. The Yeddyurappa camp is hoping to garner the support of another 10-15 MLAs by Monday evening.
Even though Yeddyurappa did not say that he would tread his own path if his demand was not met, his supporters gave enough indications about their intentions. “The party high command should convene a meeting of the BJP legislature party within 24 hours and elect a new leader of the legislators’ choice,” PWD Minister C M Udasi said.
“Wait for 48 hours. Everything will be settled,” a confident Yeddyurappa told reporters before packing off his supporting MLAs to a resort in the outskirts of the city. As per the present plan, all these MLAs would stay put in the resort until the party high command makes its stand clear on Yeddyurappa’s reinstatement. They have also decided to boycott the Budget Session, if the situation demands.