Bangalore:
The tension within the BJP government in Karnataka seems to be escalating rapidly.
The rebellious Reddy brothers, who are mining barons, and are ministers in the current government, have been summoned to Delhi. They've attacked Chief Minister Yeddyurappa openly, demanding that he be replaced.
In addition to their considerable wealth, the Reddy brothers wield considerable influence - they claim to have at least 60 MLAs on their side, who've all been sent to Hyderabad and Goa, ostensibly to keep them from switching sides.
When asked about the party calling the Reddy brothers to Delhi, the chief minister said, "The high command has asked me to stay quiet. I will not speak about this now." When told that his rivals claim to have the support of 60 MLAs, a sarcastic Yeddyurappa responded, "I am so happy."
The two camps have clashed publicly several times in the last few months, with the Reddy brothers accusing Yeddyurappa of being dictatorial, and not giving them enough space in how they run their ministries.
The latest confrontation comes after the chief minister, who's trying to raise money for flood relief work, introduced new taxes on trucks. That hits the Reddy brothers' mining business hard. Openly defying him, G Janardhana Reddy and G Karunakara Reddy have organized parallel relief operations for homes and families struck by floods in Bellary, their home turf.
Earlier this week, central party leader Arun Jaitley was sent to Bangalore to negotiate peace. Jaitley openly backed Yeddyurappa, praising his work as chief minister.
The rebellious Reddy brothers, who are mining barons, and are ministers in the current government, have been summoned to Delhi. They've attacked Chief Minister Yeddyurappa openly, demanding that he be replaced.
In addition to their considerable wealth, the Reddy brothers wield considerable influence - they claim to have at least 60 MLAs on their side, who've all been sent to Hyderabad and Goa, ostensibly to keep them from switching sides.
When asked about the party calling the Reddy brothers to Delhi, the chief minister said, "The high command has asked me to stay quiet. I will not speak about this now." When told that his rivals claim to have the support of 60 MLAs, a sarcastic Yeddyurappa responded, "I am so happy."
The two camps have clashed publicly several times in the last few months, with the Reddy brothers accusing Yeddyurappa of being dictatorial, and not giving them enough space in how they run their ministries.
The latest confrontation comes after the chief minister, who's trying to raise money for flood relief work, introduced new taxes on trucks. That hits the Reddy brothers' mining business hard. Openly defying him, G Janardhana Reddy and G Karunakara Reddy have organized parallel relief operations for homes and families struck by floods in Bellary, their home turf.
Earlier this week, central party leader Arun Jaitley was sent to Bangalore to negotiate peace. Jaitley openly backed Yeddyurappa, praising his work as chief minister.
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