BJP leadership to look into K'taka rebels' demand

With political crisis in the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party blowing over for the time being, the party on Monday hinted to the rebels that the central leadership will look into their demand and take an "appropriate action" at an appropriate time.

"The ministers have taken back their resignations unconditionally and have returned to work. We are heading for a political solution in Karnataka," BJP's in-charge for Karnataka affairs Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters in New Delhi.

In a clear indication that the party's central leadership was not averse to look into the demand of the rebels, he said, "Appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time. It has been conveyed to all the sides."

He said the party high command is aware of all the developments in Karnataka and the ministers withdrew their resignations after "threadbare" discussions with the leadership.

The nine ministers loyal to former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa decided to withdraw their resignations after the central leadership assured them that they would decide on their demand for leadership change in the next two-three days, a report from Bangalore said.

The rebel group, which triggered a fresh crisis last week with nine of their ministers quitting to put pressure on the leadership to remove Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, has been invited for talks in New Delhi by the party's central leadership.

Gowda is reaching the capital on Monday to attend a meeting of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance chief ministers with NDA working chairperson L K Advani on the presidential election. He will also attend the marriage reception of BJP President Nitin Gadkari's son in the evening.

Sources said a meeting of Gowda, Gadkari, Karnataka in-charge Pradhan and other senior leaders will take place.