Power breakfast, lunch to settle K'taka power struggle

Ex-CM Yeddyurappa meets loyalists to remind the BJP top leaders their promise to reinstate him or look into his demands. Vicky Nanjappa reports

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa decided to show his strength by having breakfast with his loyalists while his rivals have decided to counter him by having lunch together. Yeddyurappa, who is in all sorts of trouble following the Central Empowerment Committee's observation on illegal mining on Thursday, held a breakfast meeting with 55 of his loyalists.

Although his supporters said that not much should be read into this, it was clear that it was just a reminder to his party's central leadership that had promised to reinstate him or look into his demands by the first week of April.

Govind Karjol, an aide of Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, has now hosted lunch for all those opposing Yeddyurappa's return as the CM of the state. The lunch meeting will be held on Friday and the exercise is being undertaken to show Yeddyurappa that there is a good number of people opposing him.

However, the big issue regarding the leadership is not expected to take place. Some developments based on the demands that Yeddyurappa has been making are however expected.

Yeddyurappa who had put up a brave face seeking his reinstatement after being cleared by the high court in the illegal mining cases once again finds himself on the back foot. The Central Empowerment Committee had on Thursday said that based on the allegations that Yeddyurappa and his sons had received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 6 crore to favour mining firms a further probe was needed in the matter. The Supreme Court will now decide on April 11 whether the matter needs to be probed by the CEC or the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership will await the verdict before deciding on Yeddyurappa's fate. Yeddyurappa on the other hand has decided to file his reply before the CEC and also the Supreme Court. Yeddyurappa's legal team feels that the observation of the CEC is unfair.

They say that the matter is already pending before the Lokayukta court and they have also moved the Karnataka high court seeking a discharge in the case. When the matter is pending before the court it was unwarranted for the CEC to make such an observation, say members of his legal team.

Yeddyurappa will now give a representation to the CEC and also move the Supreme Court regarding the same.