Yeddyurappa calls Gowda betrayer, praises Sonia and Congress

As the crisis escalated amid speculation that the party in the state was heading for a split, Gowda flew to Delhi for talks with party president Nitin Gadkari and top leaders.

Lashing out at Gowda, Yeddyurappa said in Bangalore he was a "betrayer" for not vacating the chief ministership in six months to pave the way for his return to the post from which he quit after the Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicted him in July last year.

Yeddyurappa was also critical of Gowda's comments that a politician cannot expect God to wash off his sins by making offerings in remarks seen as a dig at him.

He likened the Chief Minister's remarks to "devil quoting the scriptures".

In further embarrassment to BJP, the sulking leader praised Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her party for being supportive of leaders facing trouble "unlike" his own party.

"I have to praise Sonia Gandhi. I noticed that Congress party and its people are united and supportive if any one of their party members gets into trouble. They help each other and resolve the problems," he said addressing a gathering at a function here.

Yeddyurappa's outburst came as the ruling BJP was hit by a fresh crisis after nine ministers loyal to him submitted their resignations to him yesterday and gunned for Gowda's removal.

In Delhi, Gowda said he has not received the resignation letters either from the ministers or the MLAs. "I read about it (resignation letters) through the newspapers that about 7 ministers, 17 MLAs have submitted their resignation to Yeddyurappa. I can only react when I get their resignations in my hand."(MORE)