Unconfirmed reports are claiming that Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has finally stepped down from power, after being asked to by the BJP high command.
BJP senior officials are yet to confirm the resignation.
Just hours earlier, Yeddy appeared to be in no hurry to quit without a fight as he held consultations with loyalist ministers and legislators and sought to rope in the Reddy brothers to weigh the options before him after the BJP top brass asked him to step down.
But a meeting of the Karnataka Cabinet convened here this afternoon to discuss in detail the Lokayukta report on illegal mining has been cancelled, official sources said.
The Cabinet meeting was scheduled at start at 3.30 pm amid intense speculation on what action the government proposed to take on the report which has put it on the mat vis-a-vis illegal mining, particularly in mineral-rich Bellary district.
Shortly after his arrival from Delhi where he was told by the top brass to make way for another leader after the Lokayukta report on mining scam, Yeddyurappa went into a huddle with more than a dozen MLAs and other ministers, including C.M. Udasi, Murugesh Nirani, Umesh Katti and Basavaraj Bommai.
Health and family welfare minister B. Sreeramulu, a close confidant of the Reddy brothers from mineral-rich Bellary district — Ministers G. Karunakara and G. Janardhana — who have been indicted in the Lokayukta report — met Yeddyurappa after being called by him.
Before meeting the chief minister, Sreeramulu said the party high command is supreme.
“We will abide by the party high command. We are not bigger than high command, we are not bigger than the party. High command decision is final”.
Bommai, as an emissary of Yeddyurappa, was believed to have met the Reddy brothers, amid indications that the chief minister has widened his consultations on his options.
But what about the Reddy brothers?
The BJP Central leadership has also put a question mark on the continuance of the Bellary brothers in the Cabinet as they have too have been indicted in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
Tourism, culture and infrastructure development minister G. Janaradhan Reddy, his brother revenue minister G. Karunakar Reddy and close associate and health minister B. Sriramulu have been indicted in the Lokayukta report.
Hegde has also made other charges against the mining barons which make their continuance in the Karnataka government untenable, a BJP leader said.
“Since Yeddyurappa has been asked to put in his papers on the grounds that he has been indicted in the Lokayukta report, the Reddy brothers cannot continue if one were to go by the same line by argument,” a central BJP leader said.
The Reddy brothers claim close proximity to leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and even said she is like a mother to them. However, Swaraj had stated recently that she was opposed to two brothers becoming a part of the same Cabinet but the Reddy brothers were appointed at the behest of her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley and others.
The youngest of the Reddy brothers, G. Somashekhar Reddy enjoys minister of state status as chairperson of the Karnataka milk federation. He also has a share in the family’s mining business.
The replacement CMs
Jagadish Shettar, rural development minister: Though not known in rest of the country, Shettar being a Lingayat the caste can work in his favour. Or if Yeddy wants to stay, it may work against him.
Eshwarappa, state BJP president: He belongs to the backward caste and not known much to the BJP leadership.
Sadananda Gowda, former state BJP chief: A non-controversial figure, he belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.
Ananth Kumar: Perceived as BSY rival, he is a national figure, but being a Brahmin does not have vote bank with him.
V.S. Acharya: The ex-home minister is a BSY loyalist. Having faced many troubles, he may not be chosen to the top post.
Suresh Kumar, law minister: He has a clean image, but as a Brahmin, he does not have vote bank to support him.
Shobha Karandlaje: Belonging to Vokkaliga caste, her proximity to BSY may work against her.