BJP leadership to meet again on Karnataka crisis

New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday continued its efforts to solve the leadership tussle in Karnataka where a faction led by the Reddy brothers is gunning for Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The party leadership is likely to meet in the evening to discuss the Karnataka problem, a source said here.

"Every legislator and MP has put forward their viewpoints," general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

"Based on that we (party MPs Ananth Kumar and Arun Jaitley) will give our report to the national leadership who will then take a decision.... We will meet senior leaders in the evening," Jaitley said after meeting one of the Reddy brothers - G. Janardhana Reddy.

Janardhana Reddy, the state tourism minister, arrived in Delhi Monday and met Jaitley and Ananth Kumar.

"With the high command making it clear that there will be no change of guard in the state, Janardhana Reddy is here to bargain for other demands," a senior BJP leader said.

Earlier, Kumar and Jaitley met veteran party leader L.K. Advani.

Meanwhile, the emissary of Yeddyurappa, Dhananjay Kumar said: "The central leadership has decided that at this point there will be no change of leadership. I heard they (Reddy brothers) have come to Delhi.... the issues will be solved amicably."

The power tussle in the BJP's Karnataka unit saw prolonged negotiations between leaders of the rival camps and national leaders here Sunday.

Several legislators and MPs belonging to both camps - one supporting Yeddyurappa and the other favouring the Reddy brothers of Bellary - are in the capital.

State party president Sadananda Gowda said Sunday that Yeddyurappa would remain the chief minister, reflecting the party leadership's views.

Yeddyurappa supporters -- former MP Dhananjay Kumar and state Home Minister V.S. Acharya -- met Advani Sunday and said they have been assured there would be no leadership change. They also met BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Acharya and Kumar also called on RSS pointsman and BJP general secretary Ramlal earlier and claimed his support in favour of Yeddyurappa.

The Reddy brothers - ministers G. Janardhana Reddy and elder brother G. Karunakara Reddy (Revenue) - are lobbying to appoint assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar as the chief minister. Shettar, 53, is close to the brothers.

--IANS