With the BJP leadership throwing its weight behind him, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday appeared confident of continuing in office although the rebellion against him showed no signs of ending. The Chief Minister said he would meet the Reddy brothers, who have demanded a leadership change in the state, as also the top leadership on Thursday in a bid to resolve the crisis.

Summoned by the party leadership, Yeddyurappa arrived here Wednesday evening. He met senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and is scheduled to meet other leaders, including Sushma Swaraj, to break the deadlock. But both the Chief Minister and his close supporters have signaled that they were not ready for a leadership change, putting pressure on the leadership which is said to be working out a formula.

“I am 100 per cent confident. I am going to complete five years,” Yeddyurappa said when asked whether he was confident of remaining the Chief Minister. He pointed out that the party leadership has already made it clear there will not be any leadership change.

Senior party leader Arun Jaitley, however, took a cautious line and said “nothing can be said as of now as talks are on”.

Exuding confidence, the Chief Minister said he would also meet the Prime Minister on Thursday to invite him for the foundation laying ceremony of a housing scheme being implemented by the state for flood-hit people of the northern districts.

He said he would also meet Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy and his brother and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy on Thursday. “We will find an amicable solution to the problem,” he said. The Reddy brothers, however, are not relenting. Sources said Janardhan Reddy held several rounds of talks with Swaraj on Tuesday and Wednesday and is said to be adamant on their demand for the Chief Minister’s removal.

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