Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday said in Shimoga that the party will take a decision on Somanna on August 26.

Resignation

It is  speculated that Somanna may be asked to submit his resignation and the Chief Minister would reject it to create the impression that the minister is willing to quit but the party will not let him go.

Sources in the party said that the Chief Minister may have to face embarrassing moments during the legislature session starting September 9, if Somanna continued in the State Cabinet.

“In all probability, he will be dropped from the cabinet and his services  used in the forthcoming BBMP elections. Later, when elections are held to the legislative council from the assembly, Somanna will be fielded”, a leader said.

Somanna has not been attending office after his poll debacle in Govindarajnagar assembly constituency.

The Chief Minister is also undecided on the continuation of Social Welfare Minister D Sudhakar, against whom the CBI has filed a chargesheet in an alleged bank fraud.

Demand

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said Somanna has been rejected by the people in the by-election. He does not have the moral right to continue in office. However, it is the discretion of the chief minister to retain or drop him, he added.

Kumaraswamy, however, demanded that the chief minister should drop minister Sudhakar.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor, he said Sudhakar is a ‘tainted’ minister. He is charged with fleecing a bank of crores of rupees.