BENGALURU: Disgruntled BJP legislator Umesh Katti is believed to have met former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) late night on Tuesday, leading to speculation on the stability of the BJP government.
Late on Tuesday night, Katti, accompanied by Goolihatti Shekar, former minister and BJP MLA from Hosadurga, held talks with Kumaraswamy at the latter’s residence. Sources privy to the meeting said the discussion centred around “betrayal” and “injustice” meted out to Katti and other loyal senior BJP leaders.
However, Katti is said to have told Kumaraswamy he and other disgruntled legislators were not prepared to quit the BJP just yet. “The trouble is, none of these legislators who have been meeting us are ready to face elections. The meeting did happen and it was purely because the legislators were disgruntled,” a source close to Kumaraswamy said.
Kumaraswamy himself remained tight-lipped on the meeting, merely saying: “We will wait for another 10 to 15 days before taking any political decision.” But Katti outright denied meeting Kumaraswamy. “It is nothing but baseless rumours,” said the seven-time Hukkeri MLA.
The meeting with the JD(S) legislature party leader follows one at the residence of former chief minister and industries minister Jagadish Shettar late on Monday and the circulation of an anonymous letter casting aspersion on chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s ability to lead, given his age and ill-health.
The Hukkeri MLA, is peeved at being denied a cabinet berth and had met members of BJP’s central leadership in New Delhi last week to push his case.
Katti and Shekar are ex-Janata Parivar functionaries and Tuesday’s meeting is being seen as a possible move by the JD(S) to lure them to strengthen the regional party. JD(S) sources, however, said the meeting cannot be considered part of parallel plans mooted by JD(U) state president Mahima Patel to put the old band together.
Meanwhile, the BJP has shrugged off the anonymous letter which was also critical of interference from Yediyurappa’s family, especially son BY Vijayendra, in running the government.
“The party has not taken the letter seriously and has dismissed it. We are not concerned with the letter and no internal inquiry has been ordered,” said a BJP functionary.
Gowda backs BJP
Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda in Belagavi said he hoped for the government to complete its full term. “BJP is a disciplined party. Let Yediyurappa and his team do good work for the entire term,” Gowda said. On dissidence brewing in BJP, Gowda said, “Dissidence is there both in Congress and BJP. The respective parties must handle it. We are not interested in taking them into the JD(S) fold.”
Late on Tuesday night, Katti, accompanied by Goolihatti Shekar, former minister and BJP MLA from Hosadurga, held talks with Kumaraswamy at the latter’s residence. Sources privy to the meeting said the discussion centred around “betrayal” and “injustice” meted out to Katti and other loyal senior BJP leaders.
However, Katti is said to have told Kumaraswamy he and other disgruntled legislators were not prepared to quit the BJP just yet. “The trouble is, none of these legislators who have been meeting us are ready to face elections. The meeting did happen and it was purely because the legislators were disgruntled,” a source close to Kumaraswamy said.
Kumaraswamy himself remained tight-lipped on the meeting, merely saying: “We will wait for another 10 to 15 days before taking any political decision.” But Katti outright denied meeting Kumaraswamy. “It is nothing but baseless rumours,” said the seven-time Hukkeri MLA.
The meeting with the JD(S) legislature party leader follows one at the residence of former chief minister and industries minister Jagadish Shettar late on Monday and the circulation of an anonymous letter casting aspersion on chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s ability to lead, given his age and ill-health.
The Hukkeri MLA, is peeved at being denied a cabinet berth and had met members of BJP’s central leadership in New Delhi last week to push his case.
Katti and Shekar are ex-Janata Parivar functionaries and Tuesday’s meeting is being seen as a possible move by the JD(S) to lure them to strengthen the regional party. JD(S) sources, however, said the meeting cannot be considered part of parallel plans mooted by JD(U) state president Mahima Patel to put the old band together.
Meanwhile, the BJP has shrugged off the anonymous letter which was also critical of interference from Yediyurappa’s family, especially son BY Vijayendra, in running the government.
“The party has not taken the letter seriously and has dismissed it. We are not concerned with the letter and no internal inquiry has been ordered,” said a BJP functionary.
Gowda backs BJP
Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda in Belagavi said he hoped for the government to complete its full term. “BJP is a disciplined party. Let Yediyurappa and his team do good work for the entire term,” Gowda said. On dissidence brewing in BJP, Gowda said, “Dissidence is there both in Congress and BJP. The respective parties must handle it. We are not interested in taking them into the JD(S) fold.”
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