He is our leader, declare loyalists

Addressing a press conference, Ministers V S Acharya, S Suresh Kumar, Murugesh Nirani, V Somanna and Krishna Palemar said media reports of some BJP MLAs raising a banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa were not true. There was no signature campaign against the chief minister, they added.

Acharya said some MLAs had gathered at the party office in connection with the up coming byelections. Some vested interests were trying to create problem and that there was unity in the party, he claimed.

He, however, ducked the question as to why State BJP President K S Eshwarappa has not yet denied that there was no dissident activity in the party.