Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Even as Karnataka BJP dissidents refused to meet CM Yeddyurappa, sources in the BJP revealed that the leadership may decide to remove Rural Development Minister Shoba Karandlaje from the cabinet- one of the demands of the rebellious Reddy brothers.
The Reddy brothers have been demanding the CM’s resignation. They have problems with the Chief Minister's 'autocratic' style of functioning, increasing clout of Karandlaje and other issues related to their mining business.
As per a compromise deal, the district administration of Bellary- where the business of the brothers is based- may be revamped. State Principal Secretary VP Baligar could also face the axe, reports suggest.
When asked if she would agree to quit her post, Shobha said, "I am a loyal party worker. If the party wants me to
quit, I will oblige. But no one has asked me to (quit) nor do I know of the developments in Delhi,".
Former Union Minister and Karnataka government representative in New Delhi V Dhananjaya Kumar told reporters on Thursday night, "Tomorrow (Friday) Yeddyurappa and the Reddy brothers will hold a joint press conference to announce the solution."
But the Reddys have not accepted the reported compromise formula which includes besides dropping Karandlaje, shunting out the CM's principal secretary and giving prominence to the Reddy brothers in running the party and government.
Earlier in the day they said no to meeting the CM by refusing to meet him for talks.
“Why should we meet BS Yeddyurappa. We hope that the BJP high command will listen to us,” the Reddy brothers were quoted as saying by television channels.
Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa had said he was trying his "level best to meet the Reddy brothers (Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy) today" to resolve the crisis.
"In the interest of the state, I am ready to discuss (the issues) with anybody and solve the problem. Whatever decision the national leadership is going to take, that is going to be the final decision," he was quoted as saying.
"I have been here for three days and have met senior party leaders. I am confident that they will take a decision in the interest of Karnataka and in the interest of BJP," Janardhana Reddy said as he headed for meeting with party president Rajnath Singh.
BJP President Rajnath Singh held a meeting with senior
party leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu
and Ananth Kumar this morning and Yeddyurappa joined them
later.
While leaving the meeting venue, the Chief Minister said
he will meet Singh and other senior leaders again.
"Talks are still on," Naidu said, after the meeting.
Naidu and Swaraj, whom the dissidents met earlier, tried
to convince Yeddyurappa on certain demands of the Reddy
brothers but sources said no consensus could be reached.
While Yeddyurappa has sent overtures to the dissident camp
and even met Speaker Jagadish Shettar, who is their chief
ministerial candidate, the Reddy brothers have refused to meet
him.
Yeddyurappa and the central leadership have ruled out
change of guard in Karnataka but are open to negotiations with
the Reddy brothers on their other demands.
However, Janardhana Reddy appeared to be adamant on
Yeddyurappa's removal in protest against his style of
functioning.