Yeddy meets BJP top brass

Despite rising criticism for his alleged involvement in allotting government land to his family members, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today hit out at the opposition parties demanding his ouster.

Yeddyurappa reached the national capital tonight to meet BJP central leaders and explain his position. Sources said he would produce documents to prove his innocence to the core group of the party.

“Who are they to force me to resign? Development work in Karnataka is going on without any hindrance and therefore the opposition parties are disappointed. That is why the they are creating problems,” said Yeddyurappa soon after reaching Delhi.

The BJP top brass had summoned the chief minister to Delhi on Thursday after his name cropped up in the alleged transfer of government land to his kin. Sources in the party said senior leaders wanted to listen to Yeddyurappa before deciding on his fate as chief minister of the state.

“He is an extremely popular leader in Karnataka within his community and has done a lot of work. He can’t be replaced without being properly heard. He will narrate his position and also present the documents in support of his argument. Once the senior leaders have all the facts before them, then only they will take the call. If it is found that he has not bent rules to favour his family members and was doing what the past chief ministers have done, the party will look into that aspect also,” said a senior BJP leader from Karnataka.

The core group had met at party President Nitin Gadkari’s residence before summoning Yeddyurappa and state BJP President KS Eshwarappa, among others to find out a way to end the crisis in the state.

Senior BJP leaders said the party will not suffer because of the actions of Yeddyurappa and if he fails to convince the core group then he might have to step down. “We are answerable to the people of the state. We had promised good governance and if the chief minister is found guilty or unconvincing, then he might have to step down,” said a senior BJP leader.