UNI

Bangalore, May 26: Karnataka deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday denied reports that he had resigned from the Ministry following ''dissidence'' in the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking to newspersons here, he termed the reports in a section of the media as 'totally false.' The reports said Yediyurappa had threatened to quit if action was not taken against his detractors, former union minister Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal, health and family welfare minister R Ashok and MLC Aravind Limbavalli. He had reportedly sent his resignation letter to party President Rajnath Singh and a copy to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

It may be recalled that Yatnal had launched an 'Oust Yediyurappa and save BJP' campaign on wednesday by setting a 15-day deadline for him to quit as BJP Legislature Party leader. Yatnal had charged Yeduyurappa with working against the interests of the party and not giving proper representation to the North Karnataka region in the Ministry and the Legislative Council.

Yediyurappa said Yatnal had been making such allegations for the last five or six months. ''I don't know why he is making such allegations. I will not react to these allegations. I have no power to take action against him. Only the party national and state President have the power.'' The BJP State unit met on Friday and took an unanimous decision to send a report on the issue to the party central leadership, he said, claiming that he had the support of all the party ministers and leaders.

He categorically denied that there was any groupism in the party.