Rebellion 2.0 by BJP berth-seekers?
BJP MLAs meet in Belagavi, CM denies holding counter-meeting
BENGALURU:
Amidst speculation of a fresh round of rebellion by berth-seekers in the ruling BJP, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday dismissed reports that he had convened an emergency meeting of MLAs after another group met in Belagavi.
According to sources, in the backdrop of 4 RS seats from the state which are to be filled, MLAs from North Karnataka met former MP Ramesh Katti in Belagavi on Thursday. Reportedly, the meeting was to garner support for an RS seat for Ramesh Katti, brother of MLA Umesh Katti.
The meeting had led to speculation that the CM would hold a counter-meeting with some legislators. However, the CM dismissed it, tweeting on Friday: “I have noticed reports being aired by some news channels that I convened an emergency meeting with a few legislators. It is far from the truth. I would like to clarify that I have not convened any such meeting.”
ಪಕ್ಷದ ಕೆಲವು ಶಾಸಕರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಲು ನಾನು ತುರ್ತು ಸಭೆ ಕರೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸಾರವಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಇದು ಸತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ದೂರವಾದ ಸಂಗತಿ. ಅಂತಹ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಕರೆದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) May 29, 2020
Speak to the media, Ramesh Katti said the Belagavi meeting had no connection with the RS polls. According to him, Yediyurappa had assured Umesh Katti recently that he (Ramesh Katti) would be get an RS seat.
Umesh Katti stressed that no politics was discussed at the Belagavi meeting. “We did not discuss politics or anything related to discontentment or rebellion. I am a responsible MLA, “ he said.
‘Unhappy with CM’
Striking a different note, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who had attended the meeting, expressed his dissatisfaction with Yediyurappa, saying some ‘works’ had not been completed despite legislators taking them up with the Chief Minister.
When asked whether Yediyurappa should continue as CM, he said he would not talk about it to the media. “I will tell only our senior party leaders. I will tell them whatever is in the best interest of the state. We will abide by our high command. If they say the Chief Minister should continue, let it be so and if they want to change the leadership, we will abide by it,” he said.
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