Yeddyurappa to skip BJP National Executive meet

While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed that he will attend the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive meet, former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa is still adamant about skipping the crucial event.

Incidentally, Yeddyurappa has not missed a single executive meeting of his party in the last two decades. Yeddyurappa and his followers, including five colleagues in the Karnataka cabinet, will not attend the meet.

The BJP's central leadership has also decided to downplay the incident.

According to sources, no attempt was made to persuade Yeddyurappa to change his mind. They are letting the issue lose its steam as the party wants to focus on national issues.

Yeddyurappa, who has been trying to arm-twist his party leadership, has not had much success. But that has not deterred him from demanding a fair share of tickets for his followers in the forthcoming legislative council elections.

Yeddyurappa cannot be ignored, claim his supporters. The disgruntled BJP leader will continue to step up the heat and will not mind if he is suspended from the party, they say.

Other Karnataka BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, will be present at the meet on Friday.