BSY, Gowda in Delhi as Karnataka crisis continues

BS Yeddyurappa and Karnataka chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda were summoned to New Delhi by the BJP high command for a meeting today, indicating that a decision on BSY's reinstatement as CM might be taken soon but "implemented later".

BS Yeddyurappa and Karnataka chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda were summoned to New Delhi by the BJP high command for a meeting on Thursday, indicating that a decision on BSY's reinstatement as CM might be taken soon but "implemented later".

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On Wednesday the BJP suffered a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha bypoll in Udupi-Chikmagalur held by Gowda and a rather mellowed Yeddyurappa arrived in New Delhi to press his case for reinstatement as CM.

The high command appeared to have come around to the view that BSY should be reinstated since the Karnataka high court had set aside the Lokayukta order against him in the illegal mining case.

But it wants him to wait till the assembly's budget session is over and the biennial Rajya Sabha polls completed on March 30, party sources said.

Central BJP leaders said they were left with little choice as BSY commanded the support of majority of his MLAs and the party was doomed if he broke ranks.

But BJP chief Nitin Gadkari is understood to have conveyed to BSY a piece of the high command's mind as well as that of the RSS, about his rebellious ways.

This apparently forced him to abandon the boycott of the assembly by his MLAs, who were holed up in a resort for the last four days.

Gadkari also asked Gowda and state chief KS Eshwarappa to come to Delhi, indicating that a decision might be taken soon but "implemented later".

Confident that his re-instatement will take place, BSY said: "I will accept whatever responsibility they will give me."

He also said he had not set any ultimatum to the party and "left it to the leadership to take any decision...I have not asked for anything. They are not giving me anything".

BSY's meetings with central leaders were slated to take place only on Thursday, party sources added.

BSY, who wanted to present his "dream" budget in the assembly for the fourth successive time, was all praises for Gowda's maiden budget.

"This is the best budget any chief minister could present, and perhaps, it is a model budget for entire state. I am fully satisfied with his budget."