Speculation rife on B S Yediyurappa being replaced as Karnataka chief minister

BENGALURU: Even as Karnataka is battling the Covid second wave, there’s intense speculation about reported attempts in the ruling BJP to replace chief minister B S Yediyurappa.
Some ministers and MLAs, for the first time, openly admitted that attempts are being made to unseat Yediyurappa. Revenue minister R Ashoka, a Yediyurappa loyalist, said he’s aware of such activities in New Delhi. “We know that some people are trying to stop oxygen supply to the current government. But, we’re ensuring uninterrupted supply of oxygen,” he added.
This comes amid reports that several BJP MLAs held meetings in groups in Bengaluru, Hubballi and other places over the past few days to discuss leadership change. The MLAs who attended these meetings also claimed the high command has reportedly directed the chief minister to convene a legislature party meeting after June 7, the last day of the lockdown to start the process.
They also claimed that someone young and acceptable to the general public cutting across caste considerations will be considered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah in consultation with senior leaders.
A few legislators, including tourism minister CP Yogeeshwara and BJP Hubballi-Dharwad (West) legislator Aravind Bellad on Tuesday, went to Delhi reportedly to lobby on behalf of a CM aspirant. Reports that more legislators are likely to join them have created a flutter in BJP circles.
Yediyurappa, who got wind of it, ordered his loyalists to rally behind him and send a strong message. They held a meeting and later batted in his favour.
Lashing out at Yediyurappa’s detractors, senior BJP MLA SR Vishwanath declared that Yediyurappa would continue in office until the next assembly elections. Another MLA M Virupakshappa said Modi and Shah won’t risk losing a BJP government in the south by removing Yediyurappa.
Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayana maintained that no legislature party meeting has been called on or after June 7. Bommai termed reports about CM change and legislature party meeting in June as "not official".