BSY loyalists complain to Gadkari against DVS

DHNS

Bangalore, 28 May 2012: A team of Cabinet ministers, who are loyal to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Sunday is learnt to have lodged a complaint with BJP national president Nitin Gadkari against chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda on various issues, including the government’s recent reply to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

 

Ministers Basavaraj Bommai, C M Udasi, V Somanna, Umesh Katti, Murugesh Nirani and M P Renukacharya have reportedly met Gadkari in Nagpur and complained against Gowda.

 

The Ministers flew to Nagpur in a chartered flight on Sunday evening exclusively for the purpose.

 

The Yeddyurappa loyalists had criticised Gowda for sending what they termed a weak reply to the CEC, which had sought its response to a petition seeking CBI probe against three former chief ministers Krishna, N Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy. They had alleged that Gowda wanted to protect S M Krishna and Kumaraswamy as they belong to Vokkaliga community.

 

Sources said the Ministers made out a detailed case against Gowda and tried to explain how Gowda has been targeting Yeddyurappa and his loyalists by joining hands with the JD(S) leaders. They are also learnt to have said that there is a need to replace Gowda with a Lingayat leader in the interest of the party in the State. Lingayat community is the major vote bank of the BJP. Hence, a Lingayat leader should be made the chief minister ahead of the next Assembly polls, they are learnt to have said.

 

The Ministers have also disputed the contents of a letter that Gowda had written to Gadkari a few weeks ago against them. Gowda had alleged that these Ministers had been indulging in anti-party activities.

 

‘No confusion’

Meanwhile, Sadananda Gowda said there was no confusion in the party and all ministers were working as a team.

 

Speaking to reporters, he said the party leaders met at the party office on Saturday and cleared all confusion.

 

He, however, refused to comment on his Cabinet colleague and Excise Minister M P Ranukacharya’s statement that there was a confusion on the leadership issue in the State. “I will not comment on Ranukacharya’s statements. I do not think it appropriate to talk about a colleague. I can only say that there is no confusion in the party,” he stated.