In a fresh twist to the Karnataka saga, 52 rebel MLAs have reportedly faxed resignations to their leader Janardhan Reddy, who is in Delhi with the Speaker of the Assembly Jagdish Shettar, talking to the central leadership of the BJP.But Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has reportedly denied their resignation. The rebel MLAs supporting the Reddys against the chief minister are holed up in Hyderabad.
Janardhan Reddy has informed top BJP leaders about the MLAs' resignation. He met senior leader Sushma Swaraj today and reiterated his resolve not to meet Yeddyurappa. He informed Sushma of the support of 52 rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, one of the Reddy brother's demand has been fulfilled. Yeddyurappa's principal secretary VP Baligar has been transferred to the Industry & Commerce Department. ISN Prasad will be the new secretary to the CM.
The secretary's removal was a key demand of the rebel Reddy camp.
The Karnataka crisis is clearly far from over despite all assertions from a beleaguered BJP on Thursday. The rebel Reddys have toughened their stand and refused to be part of the compromise deal suggested so far.
After days of hectic parleys, the BJP had come up with the new compromise formula on Thursday. As per the formula, Yeddyurappa would continue as chief minister and Karnataka Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje would be dropped from the Cabinet.
Yeddyruppa had agreed to this, but wanted to reinstate Karandlaje as the state BJP chief. The Reddys are opposed to that too. They also want a few others known to be close to Yeddyruppa to go. Their initial demand, in fact, was a change in leadership with the ouster of Yeddyurappa.
Senior BJP leaders have been holding hectic talks with the two factions for days now. They are believed to have told the Reddy brothers in no uncertain terms that Yeddyurappa would stay on as chief minister. However, the Yeddyurappa was also asked to be flexible to demands of the rebels.
The powerful Reddy brothers, who played a key role in garnering support for the Yeddyurappa government after Assembly elections last year, have even refused to meet the chief minister in Delhi. "I hope the high command listens to us in the interest of the party. I will not meet Yeddyurappa at all," Janardhan Reddy said after his meeting with Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday.
"Yeddyurappa is jealous of us and he's the one who has hurt the image of the BJP," Reddy told NDTV.
But Yeddyurappa had expressed confidence that all issues would be resolved. He also said he would stay on as the chief minister, but would accept whatever decision the high command took.
