Bangalore

Bangalore: As BJP dissidents, gunning for Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's removal, sought axing of Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje from the Ministry, her supporters today staged a protest urging her not to quit.

BJP workers from the Yeshwantapur assembly constituency, which Karandlaje represents, staged the protest in front of the minister's official residence.

The protesters threatened to commit suicide if the party high command forced Karandlaje to quit and raised slogans against Reddy brothers -- tourism minister Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy -- who are leading the dissidents.

Shobha Karandlaje, the lone woman minister in the Yeddyurappa ministry, was, however, not present when the protest took place. The rebels have alleged excessive interference in administration by Karandlaje, whose removal has been reportedly offered by the party central leadership as part of a compromise formula to end the crisis in the BJP's first government in south.

Yeddyurappa, while speaking to a TV Channel in Delhi, has said, "For my selfish ends, I had to ditch some people including Shobha or Baligar (his former principal secretary, who was transferred yesterday)", indicating that he would drop her.

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