If BJP interlocutors succeed, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and the Reddy brothers, who are spearheading the dissidents’ campaign to remove him, could break ice here on Thursday.
Yeddyurappa, who arrived in the Capital, braced for a hard bargaining session with the Reddy
brothers, also ministers in his cabinet, at senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s residence. He also met senior leader Arun Jaitely.
But till late on Wednesday, tourism minister Janardhan Reddy remained adamant, saying he did not think a meeting with Yeddyurappa was on the cards—as the rebels were “firm” on his exit.
In Delhi, the CM said, “I will complete five years and will talk to everyone, including Reddys. All issues will be sorted out.”
Reddys want him to be replaced by Speaker Jagdish Shettar. But, the CM’s men say Shettar can, at best, be a minister.
A solution may be evolved, said BJP leaders who were hopeful of a breakthrough on Thursday.
Counting on Swaraj to press their case for a change, Reddy, gave a picture of tough times ahead for Yeddyurappa in his interactions with top BJP leaders for the second day.
Reddy was supposed to prepare a video recording of 65 MLAs demanding a change of leadership as the party high command had banned parading them in Delhi.
Even energy minister K.S. Eashwarappa, who is upset with Yeddyurappa, told his followers that the CM might not find it easy to continue with his style of functioning.
BJP sources said the party’s first government in the south was headed for turbulent times even if some patch-up is effected now. State BJP chief Sadanand Gowda, a supporter of the chief minister, exuded confidence that there would be no change of guard.
“Practically, the central leadership has already given a verdict ... that there will be no change of leadership in Karnataka,” he said, adding that here were “small differences” and now it was up to the high command to resolve them.
Before he left for Delhi, Yeddyurappa said in Hubli that “all the confusion that has arisen now will come to an end soon."
He said, “I will be meeting Janardhana and Karunakara in Delhi tomorrow.”