BJP crisis in Karnataka resolved

New Delhi, Nov 8 : BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj today said the lingering crisis in the Karnataka government has been resolved with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa publicly announcing to forget the bitter past and work in the interest of the party and state.

The peace deal hammered out by the national leadership was finally announced in the presence of the Chief Minister and Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy at the residence Ms Swaraj.

''The problem has been resolved amicably,'' Ms Swaraj told reporters here.

Mr Yeddyurappa and his arch rival Mr Reddy held hands in a show of unity.

Mr Reddy said he and his group had agreed to work with Mr Yeddyurappa in the interest of the entire state and the party on the instructions of Ms Swaraj.

A visibly relieved Chief Minister said the party was happy that all problems had been solved and added that he was grateful to the national leadership for this.

''We will work together for the people of Karnataka and see that such episodes will not get repeated,'' Mr Yeddyurappa added.

The party feels that this was the 'best gift' to senior BJP leader L K Advani on his birthday, he said.

Although no details of the peace deal were announced that brought the Reddy brothers to tow the party line, but it was obvious that the Chief Minister is forced to drop some of his loyalists and induct persons from the rebel camp or those who were not aligned with either groups.

This would mean that Mr Yeddyurappa will remain the leader of the BJP Legislature party with the Reddy brothers relenting from their demand for leadership change.

The peace formula evolved by the national leadership known to the media so far includes dropping of Rural Development minister Shobha Karandlaje and transfer of Chief Minister's Principal Secretary V P Baligar.

The Chief Minister who was shown breaking down before the cameras for sacrificing the interests of the people who had total faith in him during the course of an interview with a Kannada news channel seemed to have its own impact.

In another interesting development, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who too is facing the rebel heat, was also here with the speculations agog that the problems faced by the Chief Ministers of neighbouring state are from the same source -- the Reddy brothers, who have mining interests in both states.