BJP to decide fate of two ministers shortly

While Social Welfare Minister D Sudhakar was chargesheeted in connection with alleged cheating of a bank, Housing Minister V Somanna lost the August 18 assembly bypoll from Govindarajanagar constituency here.

Somanna, who had quit the Congress and joined BJP after resigning his assembly seat before the Lok Sabha polls, is not a member of the Legislative Council either. The state unit office bearers meeting held here debated on the developments concerning Sudhakar, an independent MLA supporting the government and Somanna.

"We have discussed the issue at length. We will consult our national leaders including party president Rajnath Singh, besides discussing it with senior leaders at state level and take an appropriate decision keeping in mind the interests of the party," party state unit chief D V Sadananda Gowda told reporters.

Party sources, however, said majority of the office bearers were of the firm view that both ministers should be asked to quit forthwith as their continuance would dent the image of the party and government.

Sudhakar and three others were facing charges of securing housing loans in fictitious names to the tune of Rs seven crore.

Gowda said the meeting reviewed the progress achieved on membership drive after concluding the first phase recently during which it enrolled 13 lakh new members as against the target of 25 lakh. The second phase of the membership campaign will be launched from September 1-3, he added.