Karnataka govt plans Assembly session at time of BSY party launch

The BJP government in Karnataka on Tuesday decided to schedule the session of the state legislature between December 5 and 13, coinciding with former BJP chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's proposal to break away from the BJP and launch his own party on December 10.

The BJP's decision is being seen as an attempt to ensure that its ministers and legislators stay away from Yeddyurappa's proposed rally in north Karnataka's Haveri district on December 10 to launch his Karnataka Janata Party.

Meanwhile, the BJP is continuing its efforts to try and keep the Lingayat strongman back in the party. Yeddyurappa today held a lunch meeting with his supporters after several of them attended the cabinet meeting with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

The Yeddyurappa camp itself is divided over his plans to leave the BJP, with several ministers from his camp advising him to do a rethink.

But Yeddyurappa insisted today that "there is no change in my decision to leave the BJP. I will formally announce the launch of my new party at the convention in Haveri on December 10. Before that, I will quit the BJP and my Assembly membership."

He said he would not prevent the BJP government from completing its term which runs till April by asking his supporters to quit the BJP. "It is up to them to decide. Anyone who is comfortable joining me can come along. I need the support of people,'' he said.

A few of his close aides suggested that he may remain in the BJP if there is a change in the national leadership of the party.

A proposed visit to Bangalore by BJP national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday to talk to party legislators was cancelled due to the ongoing controversy surrounding BJP national president Nitin Gadkari.

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