Sadananda Gowda ’refuses resignation’, BJP rules out leadership change

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, June 30, 2012: The Karnataka BJP President, KS Eshwarappa on Saturday ruled out any possibility of a change in state leadership, after eight ministers quit the government demanding that Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda be replaced by Jagadish Shettar, a BS Yeddyurappa loyalist.

BS Yeddyurappa, the former Karnataka CM, has been at loggerheads with the party ever since he was removed from his post in July 2011 and replaced by Gowda.

Eshwarappa on Saturday held a meeting with Shettar over the issue. Shettar was, in fact, one of the eight ministers who resigned from the government on Friday.

Said Eshwarappa, "There is no question of a leadership change. We will not accept the resignations of our ministers."

He added that the party will hold talks with the protesting ministers and try to look into their demands.

"They have many demands. Dharmendra Pradhan (BJP General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge) will be there. We will discuss it out with them."

Gowda, meanwhile, met the Governor on Saturday. He said, "I came to meet the Governor to have discussion on the Budget session. The Financial Bill has to be passed. I came to get a date finalised. We also discussed the present political scenario, where I refused resignations from the ministers. Dharmendra Pradhan will be coming to Bangalore this afternoon... The matter will be discussed then."

He added, "I had a brief discussion with Pradhan last night. They have expressed that everything will be resolved smoothly."

Supporters of Gowda have, meanwhile, said that they will not let him resign. Anand Asnotikar, the state Fisheries Minister, said, "We are supporting Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda. If any decision is taken to remove him, Jaakirholi and I will resign."

He asked, "Why should the CM resign? Is he corrupt? Has he been involved in any scam? If he has to step down, the central leadership will have to give a convincing reason. All these claims that the BJP can win only under Yeddyurappa are false. Under Sadananda Gowda, the BJP won five out of six MLC seats. He is a leader who supports every community and not just any one community."

Yeddyurappa has for some time been demanding that Gowda be replaced by Shettar. The former CM was removed from his post following allegations of his involvement in the illegal mining scam.

Courtesy: IBN Live