All Yeddyurappa loyalists are present at Haveri, even as the BJP continued to warn of stringent action against those who took part in the rally or even identified with him.
It is unclear if all Yeddyurappa loyalists in the BJP will participate in the rally -- they were locked in a breakfast meeting with him at Haveri earlier in the day.
Energy Minister Shobha Karandlage, B P Harish, Vishwanath, B Y Raghavendra, M Laxminarayana, C M Udasi, Murugesh Nirani, B Puttaswamy, Hartal Halappa, G Shivanna, T Suresh, C Patil, Chikanagoudar, Renukacharya, Bharathi Shetty, Basavaraj Bommai, Sunil Valyapure and H Chandrappa -- all from the BJP some of whom are even ministers were at the breakfast meeting with Yeddyurappa.
Seemingly, they are confident that no action would be taken against them. They are of the view that the warning is against attending the rally and not taking part in a breakfast meeting like they had done on the day Yeddyurappa resigned.
Member of Parliament G Basavaraj, who was suspended from the party for identifying with Yeddyurappa is however adamant and says that he will take part in the rally. "Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa and party president does not know the law. They can wait and watch what happens. I want the BJP to throw me out of the party," he said defiantly.
Meanwhile Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Valyapure has tendered his resignation to the party and says that he will be present at the rally. However, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar says that he has not got the resignation letter yet. Shettar, who is at Hubli, has said that strict action will be taken against all those who take part in the rally.
T he atmosphere is festive at Haveri. There are huge crowds that have been coming in since early morning. Around 1,100 special buses from all parts of Karnataka have been arranged to ferry the people to this small town. There are also special train services that have been pressed in. The rally is likely to commence at little after 11 am and would go on till 4.30 in the evening.
