Intense consultations in BJP ahead of LP meeting

BJP leaders and Ministers in Karnataka today went into a huddle ahead of the Legislative Party meeting, where Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's successor is to be elected.

Senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu and in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, Dharmendra Pradhan, held consultations on the issue of electing a new leader.

The meeting is slated to be held by 5 pm, with Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh being central observers to oversee the process.

Legislators of the ruling party also met in groups, including at the residence of Tourism and Infrastructure Development Minister G Janardhana Reddy.

Naidu said the election process is going to be a smooth affair and the new Chief Minister would most probably take office on August one, after Yeddyurappa submits his resignation on July 31.

"He (Yeddyurappa) has not put any conditions (for stepping down. There is no question of any condition at all," he said.

The names of Lok Sabha member, DV Sadananda Gowda, State BJP president KS Eshwarappa, Higher Education Minister VS Acharya, party national general secretary and MP Ananth Kumar and Rural Development minister Jagadish Shettar are doing the rounds to succeed Yeddyurappa.