Yediyurappa will be next Chief Minister of Karnataka - BJP

Brushing aside the “minor differences” among party leaders in Karnataka, BJP national leadership announced that Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will take over the mantle of Chief Minister in October this year.

After holding discussions with party leaders in the State, BJP’s national vice president Yashwanth Sinha, who was recently appointed leader in-charge of Karnataka, said there is no change in the stance of the party’s national executive committee that Yediyurappa will become the next Chief Minister of the State.

Claiming that JD (S), its coalition partner in the State, had assured to transfer power to BJP in October this year, Sinha refused to answer queries on the party’s next course of action if JD (S) refused to keep its word. “We will cross the bridge when it comes”, Sinha said.

He said the BJP was eagerly looking forward to having its Chief Minister after three months and hoped the transfer of power will be a smooth affair. “I wanted to meet JD (S) leaders during my visit. But, I could not make it due to lack of time during this visit”, Sinha said.

But, Sinha acknowledged that there were “minor” differences among BJP leaders in the State. “I don’t say there are no differences in the party. But, they have nothing to do with leadership as speculated by a section of the media”.

He said the differences will be resolved and would not affect the party’s performance. “There is no groupism in the party. The party is totally united in its view and the Government and BJP Ministers are doing a good job”, he said.

However, party sources told reporters in Bangalore that a section of party legislators loyal to former Federal Minister Ananthkumar had expressed their displeasure with Yediyurappa’s leadership. The legislators had expressed their strong disapproval of Yediyurappa’s “dictatorial” attitude.

A few party legislators are understood to have complained against Yediyurappa according “undue importance” to woman MLC Shobha Karandlaje in the party affairs at the cost of senior legislators and veteran partymen.