'Yediyurappa will not remain CM for long, his successor will be from north K'taka'
Bengaluru: Indicating a rebellion, senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has said that B S Yediyurappa will not remain Chief Minister for long and the high command has decided that his successor will be from the north Karnataka region.
The former Union Minister even accused the Chief Minister of taking all the development work to his home district of Shivamogga, while taking back the funds allocated to MLAs of other constituencies.
However, several BJP leaders including its state unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel have strongly refuted Yatnal's claims and ruled out any leadership change.
"...Rs 125 crore had come (for constituency), but our own Chief Minister took it back, after that a fight has started between me and him. He is taking things to Shivamogga... he will not be there (as CM) for long, his (time) has come," Yatnal said.
Speaking at a function in his constituency in Vijayapura on Monday, he claimed that the BJP high command has had enough of Yediyurappa.
"Umesh Katti (another BJP MLA) too had a question whether he (Yediyurappa) was Chief Minister for Shivamogga or for entire Karnataka...if Rs 125 crore was not taken back from me, we had plans to make all roads cement road... it has been taken back, but I won't leave it, I'm fighting for it and I will bring it," he added.
There have been speculations in some quarters in recent times about the possible change in leadership, considering Yediyurappa's age.
However, the state BJP had recently issued a statement strongly refuting reports about replacing the 77-year old Lingayat strongman.
Stating that the BJP got the Chief Ministership because of support from people of north Karnataka, Yatnal said, "will anyone vote for them in southern districts like Mandya, Chamarajanagar or Kolar, it is us people of north Karnataka who send good number of MLAs and about 10-15 may come from other parts."