Yeddyurappa to be shown the door?

NEW DELHI: Top BJP sources have told Times Now that the party might ask Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to step down after his role in the alleged land grab scam in the state was exposed.

Sources have said that BJP sees Yeddyurappa as weak spot in fight against corruption against Congress and might ask him to resign so as to gain a high moral ground. Yeddyurappa came under opposition attack after he de-notified about two acres acquired by BDA for the Arkavathy residential layout, allegedly favouring his sons and son-in-law.

The BJP leadership late on Thursday decided to call Yeddyurappa, who is in the thick of controversy over denotification of prime urban land in favour of his family members, is likely to meet party's top brass in Delhi on Saturday along with other senior leaders from the state.

The Core Group of the party, which met at the residence of senior leader L K Advani, discussed the current situation including dissidence in the party against the chief minister who has been accused of nepotism and corruption.

The leadership is said to be of the view that the political embarrassment in Karnataka has come at a time when the party is spearheading a campaign against the central government on the issue of corruption.

Party sources said the leaders were looking for a way out of the situation but were unclear how to go about it. The leaders maintained that removal of the chief minister may not be a viable option given the delicate balance in the state politics.

But if it comes to the crunch, the possibility of an alternative leader from dominant Lingayat community, to which the chief minsiter belongs, cannot be ruled out, party sources said.

Emerging from BJP's Core Group meeting, senior leader Arun Jaitley told reporters that it was decided in the meeting that the chief minister and other important leaders will be called in the coming one or two days to discuss the entire subject with the central leadership.

Earlier, party sources had said the chief minsiter was summoned tonight but reports from Banglore said Yeddyurappa cancelled his late night flight booking to Delhi.

Ananth Kumar, MP from Karnataka, who is accused by chief minister's supporters of fanning dissidence against him, also attended the Core Group meeting.

Source: Times Of India