The curtains are set to fall on B S Yeddyurappa,with the BJP central leadership today finally making up its mind to replace its controversy-plagued Chief Minister. However,in the never-ending political drama in Karnataka,there was a new act today,with a purported secret video emerging of a conversation between one of the Bellary brothers and an advisor to a central minister,where they talk of managing CBI cases against the former,handling a complaint to the Election Commission against them and even removal of Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa himself remained defiant,cancelling plans to fly to Delhi for consultations with the party leadership at the last minute today and declaring that he had the support of 110-120 MLAs. Those close to Yeddyurappa said he may come on Monday. Sources said the BJP has conveyed to the Chief Minister its decision to replace him,which may be announced by tomorrow,and is working on a succession plan. Spearheading a campaign on corruption against the UPA government,the BJP cannot afford to be seen as dragging its feet on the matter of Yeddyurappa,particularly in the light of mounting evidence against him. The 67-year-old is accused of favouring his family in government land allotments. The opposition Janata Dal (Secular) today produced more evidence of misuse of powers by Yeddyurappa to further the business interests of his family. However,what had Bangalore abuzz was the secret video recording,allegedly dating to an August 11,2010 conversation in a five-star city hotel,aired on select television channels,showing Janardhan Reddy talking to one Ashok Chopra. In the video,Chopra claims he can even get the Governor to help the Reddy brothers in exchange for Rs 5 crore for himself and Rs 15 crore for a third party. The two also discuss Yeddyurappas removal with Janardhan Reddy saying he is upset with the Chief Minister. The timing of the sting video is being seen as an effort by the Yeddyurappa camp to deflect the heat on him and to re-emphasise that leaders within his own party were trying to dislodge him. Others see a BJP attempt to divert attention from the misdoings of the CM. The tape clearly shows that the Congress is behind the move to remove the CM, BJP spokesperson V Dhananjay Kumar said. While Janardhan Reddy himself refused to comment,Kumar added that before action against him,they would wait for his explanation. The Congress,for its part,has questioned the veracity of the sting recording and the identity of the man claiming to be an advisor to the Central Government. In new evidence against Yeddyurappa,JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy produced documents showing companies run by the CMs sons and a son-in-law received Rs 5 crore as illegal gratification for allegedly changing zoning regulations in June this year for nearly 400 acres of land being developed by a real estate company,Balaji Krupa Enterprise. The firm is run by a corruption-tainted BJP MLA and a close Yeddyurappa aide,S N Krishnaiah Setty. Setty,who was initially the housing minister in the Yeddyurappa government,was sacked last year after it was revealed that through middlemen,he had bought land for Rs 6-10 lakh per acre from farmers in villages near the new Bangalore airport and then claimed government compensation for himself of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh amounting to a total of Rs 15.63 crore by announcing a housing project over 963 acres in the same region. Though he was sacked from the ministry,Yeddyurappa kept him on as the chairman of a state corporation for a while before finally sacking him. Kumaraswamy also alleged that Yeddyurappas sons entered into partnerships with a private real estate firm,Adarsh Developers,when their father was the deputy chief minister in a JD(S)-BJP coalition. Following this partnership,land was given to the newly formed companies in Yeddyurappas home district Shimoga. Yeddyurappa,his close confidante Shoba Karandlaje and firms run by the family received deposits amounting to Rs 8 crore at different points of time,Kumaraswamy said. According to sources,while the party may force him out,Yeddyurappa is likely to demand protection of all his interests. Being its first government in the south,Karnataka has huge symbolic value for the BJP and it is mindful of not jeopardising the survival of its government here. Therefore,it will also try its best to bring Yeddyurappa around for a smooth leadership change. Sources said the party has not yet officially asked him to step down and played down speculation that he was in a rebellious mode. The top BJP leadership,including party chief Nitin Gadkari and L K Advani,met today in the Capital to discuss the issue. The official word was that Gadkari had been authorised to take the final call.
