Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru
The BJP seems to be divided on who would be the next chief minister of Karnataka. While the party high command is keen on Ananth Kumar, the Yeddyurappa camp has its own favourites. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
Karnataka will have to wait for some more time to find out who would succeed outgoing Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Bharatiya Janata party central leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley met with leaders of the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party all through the day, to find out their opinion, as to who should be the next chief minister.
A meeting of the BJP Legislators is scheduled to be held on Sunday at around 11 am, following which, the name of the new CM will be announced.
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Yeddyurappa camp gears up
Meanwhile, there is resistance from the Yeddyurappa camp, since they have now realised that the high command is planning on proposing the name of Ananth Kumar as the next chief minister of Karnataka.
There is every indication to show that the high command wants Kumar as the CM, which in turn has made Yeddyurappa up the ante against this candidature.
At least three of Yeddyurappa's supporters informed that all indications during the talks they held with the senior leaders gave them the indication that the high command was seriously proposing Kumar's name.
Yeddyurappa and his followers have made it clear to the high command that they are ready to let go of all their demands and conditions if the high command is ready to drop the idea of making Kumar the CM.
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Has Kumar's chances gone down?
Indications are that Yeddyurappa will do everything to split the party if the high command does not take him seriously where Kumar is concerned.
Under no circumstance should Kumar be made the CM, the Yeddyurappa camp has warned, and if the high command does not heed to their request then the BJP in Karnataka will head for a split, the consequences of which only the high command will be responsible for.
The leaders from New Delhi tried their best to pacify the Yeddyurappa camp, but none of them were in any mood to listen. With this resistance, the chances of Kumar have gone down considerably, and it would be interesting to see what the high command would do on Sunday when the BJP legislators meet.
The Yeddyurappa camp has also submitted a memorandum to the BJP leaders with 60 signatures, stating that a scam-tainted Kumar should not be made the CM.
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So, what will happen on Sunday?
While the high command is now exploring the option of making Jagadish Shettar the next CM, the Yeddyurappa camp continues to insist that either Sadanand Gowda or K S Eshwarappa should be seriously considered.
Sources in the BJP say that the chances of both these leaders are now bright, and it would be seen what the legislators do when they meet on Sunday.
If there is no further confusion, then the legislators would meet by 11 am on Sunday, following which Yeddyurappa will tender his resignation at around 1 pm.
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Yeddy to decide future course of action
Lobbying and meetings of BJP leaders and various other factions within the party will continue till late in the night.
"One can see there is a clear split in the state BJP at the moment, although leaders insist there is no difference whatsoever," said a source.
Kumar and the Yeddyurappa faction leaders are meeting separately to decide on the future course of action.
Yeddyurappa, in fact, has sent a strong message to the high command stating that he will let go, but he will have his way at the end of it.
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