Karnataka crisis: BJP serves ultimatum to Yeddy

Agencies

Bangalore, 30 July 2011: A defiant BS Yeddyurappa is reported to have been served an ultimatum by the party high command – that he should either resign as Karnataka chief minister by Saturday evening or face probable sacking from the party. 

 

According to sources, the ultimatum was served to Yeddyurappa following his stance that he should pick his successor who would be acceptable to the people. 

 

Yeddyurappa has been clearly told that the party wants him out of the CM’s office before the state legislature party pick its new leader tomorrow, said sources. 

 

The BJP had earlier in the day ruled out allowing scam-hit Yeddyurappa to decide the name of his successor. 

"The new chief minister will be decided based on the opinion of all legislators," state Home Minister R Ashoka told reporters after a meeting of senior state party leaders.

 

In the morning, central observers Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley had met Yeddyurappa. It was their second meeting in two days. 

 

Yeddyurappa reportedly told them he would resign Sunday. 

 

Legislators and ministers supporting Yeddyurappa, who were against his resignation, appeared to change their tack on Saturday. 

 

"We are against Yeddyurappa’s resignation. However, we will abide by his decision," Excise Minister MP Renukacharya and Assembly member Belur Gopalakrishna told reporters. 

 

On Friday, their assertion was "no question of Yeddyurappa resigning". 

 

However, the supporters continued to demand that Yeddyurappa be allowed to name his successor as well as new ministers and be made state party chief. 

 

State unit chief KS Eshwarappa was confident that all issues would be resolved by Saturday evening and that Yeddyurappa would resign. 

 

"Yeddyurappa met our central leaders on Saturday morning. He said he would resign on July 31. He would do so," Eshwarappa told reporters. 

 

He also maintained that Yeddyurappa had not placed any condition for resigning.