Karnataka: Fresh crisis in BJP, 8 ministers ready to quit

Bangalore, May 13: Ruling

in Karnataka tonight plunged into a fresh crisis after eight ministers offered to quit in support of the party strongman B S Yeddyurappa for leadership change amid indications the former chief minister was mulling quitting the state Assembly.

Amid reports that Yeddyurappa could also force a split in the party, the four-year-old BJP government faced a major threat when eight ministers handed over to him their letters of resignation addressed to Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, in a sudden development apparently in protest against the latter complaining against them to the party high command.

The development capped day-long consultation process held at Yeddyurappa's residence with his loyalist ministers and MLAs.

Ministers Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, V Somanna, Umesh Katti, C M Udasi, M P Renukacharya, Shobba Karandlaje and Raju Gowda submitted their resignatin letters to Yeddyurappa, authorising the former chief minister to take a call.

Minister for Animal Husbandry Revunaik Belamagi, who is away from the state capital, has pledged his support to Yeddyurappa and offered to hand over his resignation letter tomorrow or by Monday, taking the number of ministers deciding to resign to eight.

A Minister who is closly associated with the activities of dissidents headed by Yeddyurappa told PTI that atleast 15 MLAs have also submitted letters addressed to the Assembly speaker K G Bopaiah that they are resigning their assembly membership on their own.

Yeddyurappa, who was overwhelmed by the support by ministers and MLAs, told them at the meeting held at his Race Course Residence that in the event of their resignation, he would also quit his assembly membership and a decision would be taken on the issue by Monday.