BSY loyalists seek June 30 deadline for legislature party meet

Bangalore, Jun 26: Loyalists of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa upped their ante against incumbent DV

demanding his early replacement and setting Jun 30 deadline to convene the legislature party meeting.

At a meeting held at Yeddyurappa's residence and attended by ministers Jagadish Shettar, Renukacharya, Basavaraj Bommai and others, it was resolved to urge the BJP central leadership to direct Gowda to call the legislature party meet on Jun 30. The rebels were pressing for replacing Gowda with Shettar.

Meanwhile, a source in the rebel camp said that BJP General Secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, who is in-charge of the party affairs in Karnataka, would be arriving on Wednesday to hold parleys with party leaders in the backdrop of escalated fissures among both the factions. Pradhan was expected to be joined by RSS leader Satish. BJP trouble shooter Arun Jaitely is also expected to reach here in a day or two, sources said.

Yeddyurappa loyalists claim that the party high command has accepted their demand for change of the guard in the state. Giving credence to such a claim, party state unit president KS Eswarappa said in Shimoga that he was in the race for chief ministership, but added that he would abide by whatever decision the party high command takes.

On Jun 19, the rebels had set a three-day deadline to Gowda for convening the legislature wing meeting, but relaxed it on the advise by the party high command.

PTI