Yeddy gets backing of MPs, MLAs, BJP meet for new CM put off

Bangalore, July 29 (PTI) A rebellion of sorts broke out
in Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in south Indian state Karnataka
on Friday with Yeddyurappa loyalists pressing the high command
to allow him to continue as Chief Minister, claiming he has
the support of over half the party MLAs and MPs.
In what appears to be a show of strength by 68-year-old
B S Yeddyurappa that could delay electing his successor, his
camp legislators told the party's central observers Rajnath
Singh and Arun Jaitley that it should reconsider the decision
asking him to resign. The observers were told that the opinion
of individual MLAs must be ascertained.
As Yeddyurappa continued to be a rallying point for his
loyalists upset over his exit, the BJP Legislature party
meeting scheduled on Friday has been put off amid reports that
Yeddyurappa is pressing hard that the next chief minister
should be his nominee.
"75 MLAs, 15 Lok Sabha MPs, three Rajya Sabha MPs, 20
MLCs want Yeddyurappa as leader," claimed Rajya Sabha MP
Prabhakar Kore, adding they want the high command to allow
BJP's first chief minister in the South to continue in his
post. BJP has 121 MLAs in a House of 224.
Some of the legislators also openly demanded that
Yeddyurappa be made the president of the state unit of BJP and
that he should choose his successor.
Rajnath and Jaitley also met Yeddyurappa at his
residence in a bid to convince him on the need for a smooth
change in guard with the Monsoon session of Parliament just
couple of days away when issues relating to corruption are
expected to be high on the agenda.
Singh asserted efforts were underway to elect a new
leader by "consensus".
"A majority of MLAs, MLCs and Lok Sabha members are with
Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa is our leader", loyalist Minister M P
Renukacharya said. "We appeal to the central leaders to
continue with Yeddyurappa (as Chief Minister)".
Before the developments unfolded here, Yeddyurappa, who
reluctantly agreed to resign on Thursday following the high
command's decision in the wake of his severe indictment by the
Lokayukta in the illegal mining scam, said he will be
officially submitting his resignation to Governor H R
Bharadwaj on July 31.