BJP decides to dump Karnataka CM

The core group of the BJP, which met here again on Sunday, was of the view that its anti-corruption campaign would get crippled if Mr Yeddyurappa was allowed to continue as chief minister.

The decision could be announced by Monday, when the BJP resumes its attack on the government in Parliament. “The senior leaders have expressed their views in today’s meeting and then authorised me to take a decision on Karnataka. But I will discuss the issue again with Yeddyurappa before taking a decision,” Mr Gadkari told reporters after the meeting. The chief minister was summoned to the Capital to meet the party president on Sunday night, but put off his visit at the last minute.

The meeting held earlier in the day at Mr Gadkari’s residence, was attended by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely and Rajnath Singh.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who has publicly expressed his reluctance to give up the post, had sought time from the party on the pretext that local body elections were due in the state and a change in leadership would adversely affect the party. However, with mounting land scam allegations against him, the BJP leadership was of the view that it was difficult not to act against him, particularly at a time when it was taking on the Manmohan Singh government on corruption issues like 2G spectrum, Adarsh Housing and CWG.

The BJP, which was demanding a JPC on corruption, faced a counter-attack in Parliament last week over allegations against Mr Yeddyurappa. Once the axe falls on Mr Yeddyurappa, it could become difficult for the Congress to sustain its outright rejection of the Opposition demand for a JPC.

According to sources, there are worries within the BJP about the political fallout of asking the chief minister to step down in Karnataka. Sources said Mr Yeddyurappa may be asked to name a leader of his choice.

Though he had taken several desperate steps like giving up the land alloted to his family members to retain the chair, the BJP leadership was largely of the view that it could not absolve Mr Yeddyurappa, who is facing charges of nepotism and favouritism.