Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 13: The leadership controversy in Karnataka refuses to die down completely. The talk of the chief minister's replacement has been gainng new hues with each passing day.

Those BJP legislators who wanted Yediyurappa to go, had even collected the signatures of their supporters. Yediyurappa said that he is ready to leave if the national leaderhsip so wishes. But the high command conveyed a firm signal that it is not interested in changing the chief minister of Karnataka for now.

Even after these developments, the issue still is smouldering. Therefore, in-charge of Karnataka BJP, Arun Singh, has decided to hold a meeting in the presence of BJP legislators.

Arun Singh, it is said, is bewildered and confused on the issue and because of the pressure he has been facing from different factions. In order to sort out the problem , he has called for a meeting of ministers besides the BJP core committee meeting. He also has been asked by several legislators to convene legislature party meeting too. It is said that under pressure, Arun Singh might call for the legislators' meeting on June 17.

Within the BJP, preparations are being made for the meeting which might happen on June 17 and the ministers meeting is slated for June 16. On June 18, core committee meeting would be held. Singh will put together information and opinion from all these meetings and then send a report to the party high command. Based on the report he will send after June 18, the national leadership, it is said, will decide on the future of Yediyurappa.

In a statement he gave three to four days back, Arun Singh had said that Yediyurappa would not be replaced at any cost. Still, the faction which is hellbent on ensuring the exit of Yeddyurappa has been keeping up pressure. Therefore the high command too wants to put an end to all the uncertainties.

When Arun Singh issued the above statement,Yediyurappa had said that he will stay put in this seat for two more years. Singh said Yediyurappa has been governing the state well. Yediyurappa said these words have increased his responsibilities and pledged to stay true to the trust and confidence reposed on him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister. Amit Shah. He had pledged to work for the state's development honestly.

Support grows for Bellad as next CM

As if to add fuel to the raging fire, discussions are afoot about the replacement of the chief minister. Some leaders claim that Veerashaiva leader from north Karnataka region, Arving Bellad, will be the next chief minister of Karnataka. It is true that Bellad had visited Delhi two days back, thus fuelling speculation, but he clarified that that was a private visit. His supporters have now got another weapon in their armoury to claim Bellad to be the next chief minister of the state. The posts claiming that Bellad will be the next chief minister, have become viral on social media.