By IANS,
Bangalore : The faction-ridden ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka Sunday faced fresh crises with a minister calling for the assembly’s dissolution, saying people were fed up with the unending leadership squabbles.
“If the squabbling in the party does not end, I and 19 other party legislators will tender our resignations and meet the governor to seek the assembly’s dissolution,” Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jarakiholi told reporters here.
The resignation threat and call for the assembly’s dissolution came as corruption-tarred former BJP chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa intensified efforts to oust chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda before the assembly begins its budget session March 20.
Yeddyurappa, who quit July 31 last year over corruption charges, wants to be re-instated so that he can present the budget March 21, the last before the state heads for assembly polls in April-May next year.
Jarakiholi said the factional fight over leadership had damaged the party’s reputation and facing the electorate would be difficult if it does stop immediately. “Hence, it is better to dissolve the assembly and go for elections unless the feud ends immediately.”
Unmindful of opposition to his efforts to return as chief minister, Yeddyurappa met around 35 BJP legislators, including a few ministers, here Sunday to decide steps to get his demand met.
There was speculation that the group would head to Delhi Sunday evening to pressure the BJP central leaders to replace Gowda. However the plan was dropped and the group might head to a resort on the outskirts of Bangalore to continue to give sleepless nights to Gowda and the party’s central leaders.