CM hints at action against dissident ministers

As the three dissident ministers continued their defiance against him, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa today talked tough, hinting at "stern action" against them. "These people cannot cow me down. They are worried about my popularity graph," Yeddyurappa told reporters here, as he hit back at the three ministers who had launched a strong attack on him at a function in their home district of Bellary yesterday.

Yeddyurappa said he has asked the party central leadership to take action against brothers tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy and health minister B Sreeramulu. "The three ministers have criticised me at a function they held in Siruguppa taluk where they launched their own housing programme for flood-affected victims. I am not scared of these things," Yeddyurappa said.

Saying there are "some elements" who are obstructing the pace of relief work in flood-affected areas, he asserted "I will take stern action to rein them in and ensure that relief measures are not hindered," apparently targeting the three ministers.

Yeddyurappa's tough posture against the dissident ministers who have been critical of his style of functioning comes even as party senior leader Arun Jaitley is here since yesterday on a trouble-shooting mission. Yeddyurappa briefed RSS leaders on the happenings at a meeting held at his private residence this morning. Meanwhile, several ministers and MLAs thronged Yeddyurappa's official residence and expressed support to him.

Meanwhile, the troubles for Yeddyurappa showed no signs of ending with dissident MLAs shifting camp to Hyderabad today under the leadership of tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy. With BJP central observer Arun Jaitley camping in Bangalore to try and diffuse the crisis, the chief minister hit back demanding action against the three of his Cabinet colleagues for openly attacking him.

But even as he talked tough against the dissidents led by three ministers -- brothers Janardhan Reddy and revenue minister Karunakar Reddy and health minister B Sreenivasulu -- 15 of the rebel MLAs arrived in Hyderabad. On arrival from Bangalore they were lodged in a hotel near the airport in Hyderabad and access to it has been barred for journalists.

Sources close to the rebels claimed five more MLAs would join them. Yeddyurappa, who had effected transfer of some senior officials in Bellary, the home of Reddy brothers, who have been attacking the chief minister on flood relief work, put up a brave face today.

"These people cannot cow me down. They are worried about my popularity graph," he told reporters here, as he hit back at the three ministers who had made a strong attack on him at a function in Bellary yesterday.