‘Had warned party about report... CM must resign’

A day after writing to BJP president Nitin Gadkari that Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa should be asked to step down, party's national vice-president and former Karnataka in-charge Shanta Kumar said he had apprised the BJP top brass with all the goings-on in the state long ago.

The comment comes in view of a damning lokayukta report about illegal mining, which is ready for submission.

"These lokayukta findings many knew about earlier too. I too knew and also told the party high command. Once the lokayukta report is submitted, the party should ask Yeddyurappa to step down," Kumar told HT over phone from Panjim.

He also said at a time when the party was seeking to lead a movement against the UPA's corruption, Karnataka incidents had harmed its image.

"Karnataka incidents have harmed our image. Our image will fall further if the CM is not made to step down," Kumar said.

At a time when the party is under pressure to finally persuade Yeddyurappa to step down to maintain its credibility when it comes to opposing corruption, Shanta Kumar's repeated remarks are proving to be an embarrassment and adding to the pressure.