As the three dissident ministers continued their defiant stance against him, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday talked tough, hinting at 'stern action' against them.
"These people cannot cow me down. They are worried about my popularity graph," Yeddyurappa told reporters, as he hit back at the three ministers who had made a strong attack on him, at a function in their home district of Bellary on Wednesday.
Yeddyurappa said he has asked the party central leadership to take action against Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy, Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy and Health Minister B Sreeramulu.
"The three ministers have criticised me at a function they held in Siruguppa taluk, where they launched their own housing programme for flood-affected victims. I am not scared of these things," Yeddyurappa said.
Saying there are 'some elements' that were obstructing the pace of relief work in flood-affected areas, he asserted, "I will take stern action to rein them in and ensure that relief measures are not hindered.".
Yeddyurappa's tough posture against the dissident ministers, who have been critical of his style of functioning, comes even as party senior leader Arun Jaitley visited Bengaluru on Wednesday on a trouble-shooting mission.
Yeddyurappa briefed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders on the happenings at a meeting held at his private residence today morning.
Meanwhile, several ministers and Members of Legislative Assembly thronged Yeddyurappa's official residence and expressed their support for him.
