The latest upsurge in dissident activities comes ahead of the Speaker’s election scheduled for Wednesday. While the BJP has decided to field Deputy Speaker K G Bopaiah, the JD(S), too, is planning to put up its candidate, apparently to take advantage of the division in the saffron outfit. The Congress has decided to support the JD(S) if the situation warrants.
Sources said disgruntled legislators led by Appachu Ranjan, who swear by their allegiance to the party, have sought an appointment with Bopaiah, who is in charge of the Assembly, on Tuesday morning to submit their resignation. They are also claiming the support of another 24 MLAs.
The MLAs took this decision after holding a meeting in Bangalore. Appachu Ranjan, MLA from Kodagu district, is also opposed to Bopaiah becoming the Speaker as it may reduce his chances of becoming a minister. Bopaiah is also from Kodagu district.
“We have decided to resign in the interests of the party. We want to save the party. We will also meet the party high command and RSS leaders in this regard,” Ranjan told Deccan Herald.
Sources said the rebel MLAs only wanted to mount pressure on Yeddyurappa to realise their demands which include dropping Renukacharya from the cabinet and inducting party loyalists and seniors into the government. It is also learnt that the disgruntled MLAs are planning to keep away from the Speaker’s election if, they could not resign from their posts.
By doing so, they want to send out a strong message to the chief minister, which may pose a serious threat to the government.
Meanwhile, to douse the raging dissidence, Yeddyurappa has convened an emergency meeting of BJP Legislature Party on Tuesday evening. The rebel MLAs, sources said, had initially asked the chief minister to immediately convene the legislature party meeting to discuss the issue. But Yeddyurappa refused to do so.
However, the moment they sought an appointment with the Speaker, Yeddyurappa has convened the meeting.
Meanwhile, the chief minister tried to wash his hands of the Renukacharya episode saying “it was done as per the advise of the party’s central leadership.”
Yeddyurappa, who was speaking at a function organised to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Dr Jachani, however, said whether the decision to induct Renukacharya into the ministry was right or wrong, he would own up responsibility.
While admitting that he had committed several mistakes to retain power, he would ensure that they would not be repeated.
An emotionally charged Yeddyurappa said: “Hard work and honesty are not respected these days. One has to face criticism for taking tough decisions. It has been difficult to give better administration,” he stated.
Without referring to the dissidence in the party, he said: “It will be put to an end. In the next three years, I will provide an able administration.”
Meanwhile, Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa said in Shimoga that Renukacharya was inducted into the cabinet to save the government.
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