The former Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Monday said he has decided to withhold his resignation from the BJP after appeal from senior party leaders.

But the internal turmoil in the party has put a question mark over the holding of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) in June first week.

The state government is planning to raise Rs 6 lakh crore at the global meet.

Number game

Desperate Yeddyurappa waited the whole day to shore up numbers, but by evening, it was clear that he did not even drum up the support of even 25 of the 120 BJP legislators.

He later sought to play down the number game and claimed to have advised ministers loyal to him to continue in the government in the interest of the state.

Mr Yeddyurappa addressing a press conference said “bowing to the pressure of the legislators and following an appeal by senior party leader, Mr Arun Jaitely, I have decided to keep in abeyance my decision to quit the party.”

Party insiders say that Mr Yeddyurappa held a meeting with his supporters but only about 30 legislators, mainly legislative council members, attended it.

Mr Yeddyurappa said “today's meet has given him moral strength. He has not set any agenda for the party, he added.

“I have only asked party central leaders if they want his services or not. I have not suggested any alternate names for the post of the chief minister; any such rumour is meaningless,” he said.

Mr Yeddyurappa repeated his demand for convening of the BJP Legislature Party meet, which had not been held since Mr Sadananda Gowda became the Chief Minister.

Without giving any time frame he said “Very shortly in four to five days time, I will be taking a decision on my future political course.

“Before I take any decision I will consult MPs, MLAs and my supporters in the districts. I have built the party by my hard work and sweat,” he added. Mr Yeddyurappa, largely credited for leading the BJP to power, said, he had reached a crucial stage wherein, he would go back to the people and seek their guidance on the future course of action.

In a direct attack, Mr Yeddyurappa claimed that the former civil aviation minister and a key BJP leader, Mr Anantkumar, wanted to become the chief minister and has been poisoning the mind of Mr L.K. Advani.

He has been perpetually creating confusion and crisis in the state, he alleged.

“Mr Anantkumar made efforts to topple me from the chief ministership at least thrice. Now he has indulged in my character assassination”, Mr Yeddyurappa alleged.

>anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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