BSY threats fail, BJP denies rift in Karnataka - Hindustan Times

Senior BJP leaders on Friday rushed to downplay the crisis in Karnataka and party chief Nitin Gadkari said that there is no thought on leadership change in the state.

Gadkari said that former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is a popular leader in the state. Senior

party leader Arun Jaitley too said there was no political crisis in the state.

"There is no crisis in the party in Karnataka," Jaitley told reporters here.

"There is no problem that he has created... what you are attributing to him is not the factual situation," Jaitley said denying any standoff between the former chief minister and the party.

Yeddyurappa is reported to have set a Feb 27 deadline for the party's central leaders to decide on his demand for reinstatement or to be officially declared the supreme leader of the party in the state.

That day is his birthday and his supporters plan a big bash where he may announce his plan of action if party does not accept the demands.

The party's ongoing meeting in Karnataka was cancelled on the second day.

Yeddyurappa, the BJP's first chief minister in southern India, quit July 31 last year over corruption charges. The BJP came to power for the first time in Karnataka in May 2008. Assembly polls are due early next year.

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