New Delhi:
Still defiant and refusing to quit, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today said, "Let the PM resign first as many ministers in his Cabinet are corrupt."
"There are many corrupt ministers in Delhi. The Prime Minister is a noble man but his circle is corrupt. So let him resign first and then let them talk about us," the embattled Chief Minister told reporters in Bangalore. "I will continue to be the Chief Minister for the next two years and BJP will be in power for the next 20 years," he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa is under attack from the opposition over Lokayukta Santosh Hegde's illegal mining report that names him for nepotism and corruption. Within the BJP too, there's a divide over whether he should continues as CM. BJP General Secretary HN Ananth Kumar met party president Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi today to discuss the matter.
Yesterday, Mr Gadkari had said that the party will consider Mr Yeddyurappa's future after Lokayukta Santosh Hegde's report on illegal mining is formally presented to the government on Wednesday.
Mr Yeddyurappa, the first BJP Chief Minister in a southern state, has survived all attacks against him in the last three years. But sources say a faction in the party now claims that their big plans of taking on the UPA government on the issue of corruption in the forthcoming session of Parliament would certainly be dented if Yeddyurappa stays as Chief Minister. On the other hand, those favouring Yeddyurappa say since the 68-year-old Chief Minister is the most prominent Lingayat leader of the BJP in Karnataka, the party should be wary of antagonising the community by removing him.
Back in Bangalore from a holiday in Mauritius, BS Yeddyurappa was defiant yesterday too. "I am going to be Chief Minister for another two years," he said. Speaking to NDTV later in the day, the Chief Minister even denied that he has been named in the Lokayukta's report. He insisted that there's "no evidence against me".
(Watch)The most explosive excerpts of the report - which include strong criticism of four ministers in the Yeddyurappa government - were leaked to the media last week. Mr Hegde said that his phones had been tapped by people "with vested interests." Mr Yeddyurappa said yesterday that he has asked the Prime Minister to order a detailed investigation. "If the charges of phone-tapping are proved, I will resign as Chief Minister, and take permanent leave from active politics... I will resign from the party also," he dramatically vowed.
The Hegde report on illegal mining has turned into a different sort of Rocky Horror Picture Show for the BJP, which has been targeting the UPA government at the Centre for breeding corruption. With similar charges against one if its own, the BJP has to now decide whether to sacrifice Mr Yeddyurappa, a powerful leader from the Lingayat community who has delivered impressive gains for the BJP in the Lok Sabha and local elections.
Mr Gadkari claims that the Chief Minister has promised to respect the decision the party arrives at once it reviews Mr Hegde's report. That could be wishful thinking. Sources say the Chief Minister has written to Mr Gadkari, making it clear that he will not quit unless he's found guilty by a BJP committee that he wants appointed to study the charges against him.
In an attempt to prove he has nothing to hide, the Chief Minister has asked that his in-house rival, Ananth Kumar head this committee.