Convulsions in BJP: Yeddyurappa storms into rebel conclave

A secret signature campaign by a section of the BJP against BS Yeddyurappa took a dramatic turn on Wednesday evening when the chief minister himself stormed into a meeting of the rebel legislators at the party office in Bangalore.

Upset over Yeddyurappa’s unilateral decisions over key issues and the scandal involving the Prerana Trust  which is run by his sons, over 40 BJP legislators, including eight ministers, are said to have begun lobbying against the chief minister.

The rebels, including the  Bellary Reddy brothers, have initiated a signature campaign among the party legislators in support of their ‘BS Yeddyurappa hatao’ campaign.

Over 40 MLAs had gathered at the party office on Wednesday night to convey their grievances to state party president KS Eshwarappa and national general secretary HN Ananth Kumar, when Yeddyurappa suddenly stormed into the venue. His unexpected entry forced the dissidents to end their meeting abruptly. The legislators reportedly told the chief minister that they were the discussing the party’s preparedness for the coming byelections to the assembly.

An angry Yeddyurappa was later seen venting his ire at his driver by hitting him on the shoulder as he left the venue.

“Chief minister is facing several corruption charges. It will be very difficult for the party to face the byelections at this stage. It is high time that Yeddyurappa steps down on his own, but he is not willing to do so. We have no other way but to express our views to the high command," said a rebel MLA.

CM’s unilateral decision to get into the party-fold Koppal JD(S) MLA Karadi Sanganna through Operation Lotus without taking Eshwarappa into confidence is said have angered the state party boss.