New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday accepted a key demand of his opponents in the state Bharatiya Janata Party but the rebels still want him replaced.
Sources tell CNN-IBN Yeddyurappa has agreed to replace his trusted principal secretary V P Baligar with I S N Prasad. Baligar will be moved to the industries department. Baligar’s removal was one of the demands of BJP rebels, who are led by the powerful Reddy brothers.
IANS reports Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy, his elder brother and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy and their loyalist, Health Minister B Sriramulu, still insist on the removal of Yeddyurappa, BJP's first chief minister in Karnataka and south India.
Sources tell CNN-IBN Yeddyurappa has turned down the rebels’ demand that the state Home Ministry be given to a member of their camp. Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje, a Yeddyurappa aide, may be axed and Assembly Speaker Jagdish Shettar inducted into the cabinet as part of efforts to buy peace in the party.
But that may not bring peace--rebel BJP MLAs camping in Hyderabad on Friday morning sent their resignation letters to the Reddy brothers. Janardhana Reddy reportedly has the resignation letters of 52 party MLAs and has refused to meet Yeddyurappa.
BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley is in Bangalore for a last-ditch attempt to bring the warring factions together. Yeddyurappa, whose position is becoming more and more tenuous, still maintains that issues will be resolved.
"Any important issue--whatever our all India leaders direct me, I am bound to do it. I have already agreed," he told reporters on Friday.
Asked whether he would work with the Reddy brothers, he said: "after a settlement is reached one should forget the past and work together".
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