Yeddyurappa holds talks with RSS, party leaders to defuse rebellion

Bangalore, May 31 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said the dissident activities that surfaced in the party following denial of ministerial berths to some senior leaders will be sorted out in a couple of days.

Speaking to reporters after visiting 'Keshava Kripa' the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh in Karnataka, he said the 'misunderstanding' would be resolved through talks and the disgruntled leaders would be convinced.

The Chief Minister today held discussion with RSS leaders following protests by supporters of three leaders who could not be accommodated in the ministry and hectic lobbying for portfolios of their choice by many of the ministers who took oath along with him yesterday.

Senior leaders Jagadish Shetter elected from Hubli-Dharwad central, Shankaralinge Gowda representing Narasimharaja in Mysore city and A Narayanaswamy, elected from Anekal on the outskirts of the city had protested against the denial of berths.

Mr Yeddyurappa said he would seek the vote of confidence on June six, the last day of the three-day Special Assembly session. He would announce the portfolios only after seeking the trust vote.

This means the 29 ministers who took oath yesterday would remain without portfolios for the next one week.

Speaking to UNI, Mr Shetter said he would stick to his stand of not accepting the post of speaker and would remain a legislator and serve the party if he was not offered a ministerial berth.

"I am a people's leader and I have spent more than three decades to develop the party base in Karnataka. If I accept the Speaker's post I will have to move away from the people. So I will not accept it," he said.

State BJP president Sadananda Gowda said the decision to appoint Mr Shetter as Speaker was taken by central leaders. The problem arising out of denial of berths was minor and it would be resolved through talks, he said.

The supporters of the three leaders had protested violently in Hubli, Anekal and Mysore following the omission from the state cabinet.

Today members of the Hubli Bar council and Mahila Morcha of the BJP held protest rallies. Anekal bandh was called by Mr Narayanaswamy's followers. Mr Shankaralinge Gowda had protested using vituperative words against the party leaders and had left for Mysore in a huff before Mr Yeddyurappa's ministry took the oath yesterday afternoon.

UNI RS/SR SKB1737