Karnataka BJP crisis resolved

The week-long political crisis that paralysed the BJP government in Karnataka blew over today following a compromise between the warring sides under which a coordination committee will be formed, a woman minister may be removed and the Speaker inducted into the Cabinet.

Announcing the "amicable" settlement as a birthday gift to senior BJP leader L K Advani, who turned 83 today, party leader Sushma Swaraj said in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyruppa and dissident leader G Janardhana Reddy that there are no more "misunderstandings".

Swaraj is tipped to head the seven-member Committee that will include the chief minister, senior leader Anant Kumar, state unit president Sadananda Gowda and G Karunakara Reddy, brother of Janardhana Reddy. The Reddy brothers, who are ministers, had been demanding the removal of the chief minister.

Under the compromise formula, the Chief Minister may sack his favourite minister Shoba Karandlaje and induct Speaker Jagadish Shettar into the Cabinet.

Both Yeddyruppa, who has been here for the last five days, and Reddy concurred with her. The Chief Minister said with the help of national leadership including Advani and party President Rajnath Singh the problems have been resolved and "we will not allow such a problem to arise again".

Janardhana Reddy, who had refused to meet the chief minister, said "we all will work together for the betterment of the state". The brothers are considered close to Swaraj, who had contested from Bellary Lok Sabha polls against Congress President Sonia Gandhi in 1999.

He said, "She (Swaraj) will be taking care of the family and has given a well planned decision in the end."