Karnataka CM downplays crisis in his Cabinet

Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has downplayed the crisis in his Cabinet as seven ministers who are loyalists of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa have offered to quit. Sources now say that two more ministers may follow suit.

"I have not received any resignation letter so far. There is no crisis in BJP", Gowda told reporters here when his reaction was sought over the resignation letters submitted by seven ministers to Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa is likely to take a final call on the resignations on Monday. The move is being seen as a pressure tactic by Yeddyurappa to secure more cabinet berths for his loyalists.

Sources say he may be thinking of resigning from the Assembly though Gowda says he hasn't received Yeddyurappa's resignation.

Ministers Shobha Karandlaje, Basavaraj Bommai, Umesh Katti, CM Udasi, V Somanna, MP Renukacharya and Murugesh Nirani submitted their resignation letters to Yeddyurappa on Saturday evening, they said.

"Our leader is free to take any decision on our resignation. Since we have been accused of indulging in anti-party activities, though we have not done anything, we chose to quit", one of the ministers said.

Yeddyurappa has been holding consultations with his loyalists a day after the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe against him in connection with illegal mining.

About 38 MLAs, including some ministers, have already shot off a letter to Gowda demanding convening of an emergent legislature party meeting to discuss party affairs in the state and his complaint to the party central leadership, which the chief minister has rejected.

On March 24, Gowda and state BJP President KS Eswarappa sent a letter seeking action against some ministers, loyal to Yeddyurappa accusing them of indulging in anti-party activities.

Gowda has maintained there was no need for calling a legislature party meeting to discuss the content of a correspondence between him and Gadkari.

70-year-old Yeddyurappa had intensified his campaign to regain chief ministership since February after the Karnataka High Court had quashed an illegal mining case filed against him and also the sanction accorded by Governor HR Bhardwaj to prosecute him.

With the party central leadership cold-shouldering his efforts to stage a comeback and asking him to come clean in the corruption cases against him, Yeddyurappa has turned the focus on removal of Sadandana Gowda.

A source in Yeddyurappa camp claimed that at least 45 BJP MLAs are ready to resign from the assembly. If such a development indeed takes place, the BJP government will be reduced to a minority.

In the 224-member assembly, BJP has a strength of 120, Congress 71, JD(S) 26 and Independents seven. The assembly elections are due next year.

With additional information from PTI