Rajesh Sinha. NEW DELHI
With the rebel Reddy brothers, Janardhan and Karunakar, not ready to settle for anything less than chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's scalp, the crisis in Karnataka BJP continued on Tuesday. The central leadership suggested a host of measures to placate the rebels, but stopped short of effecting a leadership change in the state.
The issue may come to a head on Wednesday when Yeddyurappa arrives in the capital. The chief minister appears in the mood to take the first BJP government in south India down with him if he is removed.
"After me, the deluge", is his stand, a source said.
Considering his strong support base in the BJP as well as the RSS, Yeddyurappa's ouster could severely damage the party in the state. If his government falls and elections follow, the BJP may not return to power.
The Reddy brothers are not concerned, however. They are confident "the party leadership will take the right decision as our aim is to see the BJP rule Karnataka for the next 50 years".
They insisted there was no change in their demand for removal of Yeddyurappa.
Tourism minister Janardhan Reddy, who is talking to leaders in Delhi, said, "In the interest of the BJP in Karnataka, we need a very good leadership in the state. Whatever my stand, I am not changing it."
While the central leadership is insisting on Yeddyurappa's continuance, leaders involved in talks with the rebels have not been categorical in ruling out a leadership change in Karnataka. "Talks are on. The problem will be resolved soon," they having been saying.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "… there is no agreement yet…."
After senior party leader Arun Jaitley failed to work out a solution, the BJP has now deputed Sushma Swaraj, who is held in high regard by the Reddys, to reason with the rebels. She had a series of meetings with Janardhan, with and without BJP general secretary and Karnataka leader Ananth Kumar, on Tuesday, but in vain.