Yeddyurappa seeks action against rebels, 15 MLAs go to Hyderabad

With BJP central observer Arun Jaitley camping in Bangalore to try and defuse the crisis, the Chief Minister hit back demanding action against the three of his Cabinet colleagues for openly attacking him.

But even as he talked tough against the dissidents led by three ministers--brothers Janardhan Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakar Reddy and Health Minister B Sreenivasulu--15 of the rebel MLAs arrived in Hyderabad.

On arrival from Bangalore they were lodged in a hotel near the airport in Hyderabad and access to it has been barred for journalists. Sources close to the rebels claimed five more MLAs were would join them.
Yeddyurappa, who had effected transfer of some senior officials in Bellary, the home of Reddy brothers, who have been attacking the chief minister on flood relief work, put up a brave face today.
"These people cannot cow me down. They are worried about my popularity graph", he told reporters here, as he hit back at the three ministers who had made a strong attack on him at a function in Bellary yesterday.

Yeddyurappa said he has asked the party's central leadership to take action against Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, both brothers, and Health Minister B Sreeramulu.
"The three ministers have criticised me at a function they held in Siruguppa taluk where they launched their own housing programme for flood affected victims. I am not scared of these things", Yeddyurappa said.
Saying there are "some elements" who are obstructing the pace of relief work in flood affected areas, he asserted "I will take stern action to rein them in and ensure that relief measures are not hindered", apparently targeting the three ministers.
Yeddyurappa briefed RSS leaders on the happenings at a meeting held at his private residence this morning.
Several Ministers and MLAs thronged Yeddyurappa's official residence in Bangalore and expressed support to him.
Yeddyurappa had planned to convene a meeting of ministers and MLAs loyal to him to demonstrate his strength this morning, but called it off on the advise of Jaitley, party sources said.

Yeddyurappa said "Our entire focus now will be on providing relief in flood hit areas. We will continue it. People are watching the activities of these people" (dissident ministers)."
"Cauvery", official residence of Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, whom the rebels have been projecting as the chief ministerial candidate, was also scene of political activity, with some MLAs calling on him.
State unit BJP President Sadananda Gowda met Jaitley and briefed him about his discussions with RSS leaders.
Gowda later told reporters that he would write to all three ministers to expedite relief work in the districts allotted to them.
In an action that angered the three ministers, Yeddyurappa had yesterday cracked the whip by abruptly transferring five officials, including Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Bellary district, seen as a move to strike at the Reddy brothers.
Yeddyurappa had also shunted out Health Department Principal Secretary I R Perumal, apparently targeting Sreeramulu, a close aide of the influential mine-owning Reddy brothers.

Yeddyurappa said the government would launch 'Aasare', a housing programme with PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) in flood ravaged areas on November one. The pontiff of Adichunchanagri mutt, Balagangadaranatha Swami, would lay the foundation for the project at Amargola village in Ron taluk, he said. Home Minister P Chidambaram will attend a similar function at Sarabadagi village in Bijapur district the next day, he said.