Ananth not for reshuffle

The leadership is likely to meet again on Tuesday.  After the parleys by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa during the day seeking permission to carry out cabinet reshuffle, the leaders met at the residence of party veteran LK Advani at 10 pm. Party president Nitin Gadkari, party's Karnataka in-charge Shanta Kumar, general secretary Anant Kumar, senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and RSS pointsman M P Kumar attended the one-hour meeting.

The discussions took place in the backdrop of the party high command informing Yeddyurappa that he could go ahead with cabinet reshuffle but the party leadership would decide on how reshuffle/expansion should take place.

The high command would decide names of the legislators to be inducted and ministers dropped.

At the meeting, Ananth Kumar was said to have strongly opposed the revamp, citing developments in Bangalore. He wanted the Chief Minister to wait till local bodies elections are over.

It could not be ascertained what the other leaders said as they left through the backdoor of Advani's house to avoid mediapersons waiting outside.

These meetings came after CM left Delhi during which he called on senior leaders and gave them a list of legislators to be inducted and ministers to be dropped.