Yeddyurappa hits back at Reddys

Shunts out Bellary district officials; shifts health secy

Yeddyurappa’s action was more in the nature of a strong and unequivocal message to his detractors within the party-government, especially the Reddy brothers, that he would not be cowed down by threats of splitting the party and endangering the government.
In a related development, State Legislative Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar is believed to have turned down an offer of ministership, a ‘gift’ for making an effort to patch up differences within the chief minister.

Sources close to Shettar said the Speaker conveyed to Home Minister V S Acharya and Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar that “there is nothing in my hand. I cannot take any individual decision at this juncture”. Acharya and Suresh Kumar were despatched to Shettar’s residence by the CM as emissaries.

Shettar is believed to have expressed his displeasure over the manner in which he has been “treated” over the past two years.

“Where were you all these days when injustice was meted out to me. Now you have come to me offering the portfolio of my choice. I know you have approached me because of the crisis in the party and the government. But I am not impressed with this,” he is understood to have told the two ministers.

Major change

Sensing a possible change in the political dynamics, Shettar has begun cobbling support of Lingayat religious mutts in Mysore and Tumkur in an effort to emerge as an alternative to Yeddyurappa. Sources close to him said that there would be a “major change” in the party in the weeks ahead. A section of MLAs, who are ranged against the CM, are likely to have an informal meeting at Shettar’s residence on Thursday.

In the absence of Health Minister B Sriramulu, Yeddyurappa chaired a meeting of government doctors here on Thursday, granting their wish for salary increase. The Health Minister said that 60 more officials in various capacities of Bellary district are likely to be transferred by Thursday.

Undeterred by the CM’s action, the Bellary siblings went ahead with the foundation stone laying ceremony for the housing project for the flood victims of Bellary. Concerned with the rift in the state unit of the party, BJP ace trouble shooter Arun Jaitley rushed to Bangalore, closeting himself with Yeddyurappa and then holding a separate meeting with Karunakara Reddy, who helihopped from Bellary on Jaitley’s direction.

After the meetings, while interacting with the media, Jaitley emphatically said the BJP government will continue to function under the leadership of Yeddyurappa.

However, he said no one, including Reddy, placed a demand for change in leadership. Jaitley said that certain issues were raised which the party intended to resolve.
The central BJP leader is expected to hold a meeting with Shettar on Thursday.

Showering praise on the Yeddyurappa government, Jaitley maintained that the state administration had done “remarkably good work” while tackling the floods. But he was quick to add that the government needed to be stabilised for all flood-related work.

AP govt notice to Janardhana Reddy

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has served a show-cause notice on State Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy on alleged illegal mining by his Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), reports DHNS from Bellary.

Ananthpur DFO Kallol Biswas confirmed on Wednesday that the show-cause notice had been issued. He wanted to know why action should not be taken against Reddy for lifting high-quality ore valued at Rs 25 crore from BIOP mining area and illegal construction of a road in the forest area in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh border.

According to sources, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has sought review of some controversial files, including one on OMC, of which Reddy is the managing director.