Shettar to pitch in for leadership change

Shettar, who has been projected by the dissident BJP MLAs as their leader, will also tell the central leadership that Yeddyurappa has lost the confidence of the large majority of party legislators and was left with only ‘8-10’ MLAs who were with him for personal reasons.

Sources close Shettar told Deccan Herald here on Saturday that Shettar will not accept any compromise while asserting that he was prepared to don the mantle of leadership from his bete-noire Yeddyurappa. The BJP leader is said to have informed party general secretary Arun Jaitley all these points when the latter was in Bangalore.
The Speaker, who arrived here on Saturday evening, said he was here as the party high command asked him to meet senior leaders for discussions. He refused to speak to the media.

Shettar is likely to tell the leaders that he would not be a rubber stamp chief minister or cowed down by the Reddy brothers if he was given the responsibility of chief ministership. However, he would tell the leadership that it was Yeddyurappa who was responsible for the growth of the Bellary mining tycoons on whom the CM depended heavily.

CM nurtured Reddys
He will point out that it was the CM who relied on the Reddy brothers and minister Sriramulu for victory of the party in the districts of Gadag, Raichur, Koppal, Chitradurga etc.

The Reddy brothers, who have raised the banner of reovolt, have ruled out accepting a compromise formula.

The Hubli leader will also tell the high command that there was no question of his accepting post of minister or deputy CM. He would have done so even about three months ago but not now. Ever since he became the Speaker, he was humiliated by Yeddyurappa and those close to him, Shettar will tell the leaders.