Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, to meet senior BJP leaders in an effort to resolve the power tussle between him and the rebel Reddy brothers.
Yeddyurappa also met rebel leader and Karnataka speaker Jagdish Shettar.
Yeddyurappa said infighting was affecting the party's image, and both sides would accept whatever decision the pasty's central leadership takes.
Till Tuesday, Yeddyurrapa had made it clear that while he was ready to compromise with the rebels, he was in no mood to step down as chief minister.
The Karnataka CM will meet the central leadership on Thursday and is also likely to meet the Reddy brothers at Sushma Swaraj's house in New Delhi.
The BJP leadership has been in a bind over the power tussle in the state with both sides sticking to their stand and Yeddyurappa's latest statement may give some place for movement. The Reddy camp has a long list of demands including a new chief minister. Yeddyurappa had told NDTV on Tuesday that there was no question of him stepping down from the CM's post and that he was instead ready for a compromise with the rebel Reddy Brothers.
The sticking points in the political war in Karnataka:
- The Reddy brothers want all criminal cases against them dropped, but the chief minister has said there's no question of withdrawing them.
- The Reddy brothers want all taxes on mining to be abolished, but the chief minister says the toll tax on trucks carrying ore will stay.
- The Reddy camp wants Shobha, the Karnataka rural development minister to be removed, but the chief minister defends her.
- The Reddy brothers also want Jagdish Shettar to be included as senior minister in the cabinet. The Chief Minister says he's willing to include him, but the portfolio will be decided by the central leadership.
- The rebels are also demanding the removal of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
- The Reddy brothers also want a greater say in the administration in the mining heartland of Bellary.
