BJP leadership backs Yeddyurappa to continue as CM

It is now certain that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will continue as chief minister of Karnataka. The party high command headed by Rajnath Singh and L K Advani have made it clear that Yeddyurappa will continue as the chief minister of Karnataka.

The statements were made by the top two leaders following a meeting they held on Monday evening with the Reddy brothers--Janardhana Reddy and Karunakar Reddy--in New Delhi. Relieved with the assurance given by the top leadership, Yeddyurappa has now decided to go ahead with the relief work in Karnataka for the flood victims. There was a cloud over the flood relief works and things had slowed down relatively due to this crisis.

Meanwhile there are reports that the Reddy brothers have threatened to quit the cabinet. Sources in the Reddy camp say that they would also try and pull out the rest of the MLAs whose support they have managed to garner in the past few days.

This high command is expected to speak with the disgruntled camp once again and convince them not to try and topple the leadership. However the Reddy brothers are expected to go for a hard bargain. Latest reports from the Reddy camp suggest that they are now eyeing for the Home portfolio. This is the latest demand they would place before the high command in case the latter wants to continue with Yeddyurappa as the chief minister.

The Reddy brothers have also instructed all the MLAs on their side to remain outside Karnataka. They have managed to garner the support of 8 more MLAs and have sent them to Hyderabad.