Disqualified MLAs: Yeddyurappa unfazed by SC blow

As Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa gears up to fight yet another battle to save chiar, the 16 rebel members of legislative assembly who were given relief by the Supreme Court on Friday, said that their fight is against the individual and not against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Yeddyurappa however, portrayed a calm picture, and said that he welcomed the result, since it only boosted the party. Out of the 16 rebel MLAs, 11 are from the BJP, so the relief means that they come back into the party.

The CM said that with these MLAs back, the BJP's strength has gone up to 121. This also includes the Speaker of the assembly, and one independent candidate. The magic number required in the Karnataka assembly is 113.

The rebel MLAs had moved the SC against the Karnataka High Court's order, which had upheld their disqualification. These MLAs are still at New Delhi and also held a meeting there. But they continue to be adamant that Yeddyurappa be replaced. "We have nothing against the party, our grouse is only against the individual," said one of the rebels.

Yeddyurappa is locked up at his private residence in Dollars Colony, and is meeting with various party leaders from the state. A source said that he is discussing how to counter the problem, in case the Governor or the opposition insists on a floor test.

Present with him at the meeting are state BJP President K S Eshwarappa and Law Minister Sunil Kumar among others. The source added that the meeting is interesting, since Eshwarappa himself is openly gunning for Yeddyurappa's chair.

"There are allegations against Eshwarappa that he has been trying to break the party up, and become the CM with the help of the 11 rebels," said the source.

The source said that Yeddyurappa has already made it clear that there will not be any change in the leadership, but he is open to allot better portfolios to them. The rebels, however, are in no mood to listen, and continue to demand for a change in the leadership.

Commenting on what roles would the five disqualified independents be playing, the BJP washed its hands off, and said that they were independents, and free to take a decision.

However, the BJP also adds that it would issue a whip to all its MLAs in case the party is asked to prove its majority on the floor of the house.