BJP ministers endorse Yediyurappa

Bangalore, June 20 (UNI) Ministers belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka coalition government today endorsed the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, in presence of party's Senior Vice President and state observer Yashwant Sinha, at a meeting here this evening.

Speaking to newsmen at the party office here, after Mr Sinha's two-hour long talks with the ministers, State party Chief Sadananda Gowda said the meeting went on well and everyone present expressed solidarity and unequivocally supported the leadership of Mr.

Yediyurappa. "Even Mr Sinha declared that Mr Yediyurappa was the party leader in the state," he added.

He said Mr Sinha also discussed about the relationship between the leaders of two partners -- BJP and Janata Dal(S), and was happy that the coalition set up had given a good performance in the last 16 months in the state. Mr Sinha was hopeful that the transition of power would be smooth at the end of 20th month from the JD(S) side.

He exhorted the ministers to concentrate more on ensuring effective implementation of various programmes as announced in the state budget for the year.

Replying to queries Mr Gowda denied that the recent dinner meeting attended by a few ministers against the leadership of Mr Yediyurappa was discussed and said there was no such meeting and it was nothing but a speculation in a section of the media.

Emerging out of the meeting Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy said the meeting was excellent and said there would not be any problem with regard to change of guard in October. "It was an arrangement between Mr Yediyurappa and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy prior to the formation of the government. We are confident that he (Mr Kumaraswamy) will keep up his words," he added.

Mr Sinha later interacted with chairmen of various boards and corporations. He is scheduled to meet district Presidents, office bearers and address the party's legislature wing tomorrow.

Mr Sinha arrived here on a two-day visit to the city to meet party leaders and activists to take stock of the latest situation in the party, keeping in view the governance shared by the party with JD(S). This was his first visit after taking over as Karnataka in-charge of party affairs recently.

His visit assumed importance in the background of a demand within the party for action against a few leaders who had spoken against the leadership of Mr Yediyurappa recently.

UNI