BJP trying to get warring K'taka factions to table

The tussle between warring factions of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka continues without a solution despite hectic political activity.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh, who met with the warring factions on Thursday, said the party was confident that the crisis will be resolved soon. He, however, ruled out any leadership change in the Karnataka. In short, B S Yeddyurappa's chief minister seat is secure for now.

Singh said they are working around the problem and are hopeful of resolving the problem soon. He also said that more meetings are slated to resolve the crisis.

During the meeting, the Reddy faction -- spearheading a faction within the state BJP to oust Yeddyurappa from the CM's chair -- stuck to their demand.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who is camping in New Delhi, said the party high command had assured him that he would not be removed from his post. "It may take another 48 hours to find a solution, but we are all confident that this impasse will pass of peacefully," he said in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, the Reddy faction led by Tourism Minister B Janardhan Reddy met senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu.

Emerging from the meeting, Naidu said a solution would be found in a couple of days.

During his meeting with Naidu, Janardhan Reddy made it clear that there was no question of a compromise.

Our demand is that the leadership be changed and there is no question of going back on that, he said, adding that he would be leaving for Bangalore and would hold discussions with his MLAs on this issue before getting back to Delhi for further discussions.

Naidu also met Yeddyurappa, who is said to have agreed to drop Shobha Karandlage from the ministry and also change the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, V Baligar.

When contacted, Shobha said she is ready to step down if the party demands so. However, nobody has told me even once that I need to resign and hence I will adopt a wait and watch policy, he said.

During the meeting with Naidu, Reddy said a leadership change would be in the interest of the party and the people of Karnataka. If the high command does not agree with us, a great danger awaits the party and the people of the state.

Meanwhile, the high command is making all efforts to ensure that both Yeddyurappa and the Reddy faction meet under one roof. Although the Reddys have flatly refused to meet with the chief minister, BJP insiders say that a meeting of the two leaders may become a reality on Friday.

Yeddyurappa has, however, made it clear that he is making all efforts to meet with the Reddy faction. The Reddys are, however, adamant. They are expected to hold several rounds of talks with senior leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and L K Advani on Friday in this regard.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa loyalists held a press conference in Bangalore extending support to their leader. The press conference, which was convened by Yeddyurappa loyalists like Minor Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol, Public Works Department Minister CM Udasi and others, stated that the BJP had come to power in the state only because of Yeddyurappa and that it would be wrong to seek his removal.