Rebel BSY camp sets deadline to make Shettar CM

BANGALORE: The rebel B S Yeddyurappa faction in Karnataka today sought to mount pressure on the BJP central leadership setting July five deadline for a decision on making their nominee Jagadish Shettar the Chief Minister replacing incumbent D V Sadananda Gowda.

Lok Sabha members from the state, MLAs and MLCs supporting Yeddyurappa met at the residence of Shettar and rallied behind him in a show of strength, a day after BJP emissary Dharmendra Pradhan held consultations with rival factions to resolve the crisis triggered by the resignation of nine ministers loyal to the former Chief Minister.

"We have unanimously decided to appeal to the high- command to make Shettar the Chief Minister", Raju Gowda, who was among the nine Ministers, told reporters, while speaking for the group.

"We are confident that a good decision will come by July five. If it does not come (by then), we will meet and take an important decision on July five", he added.

The attendees decided to authorise Yeddyurappa and Shettar to take a decision on political developments and abide by it.

They appealed to the party high-command to convene the Legislature Party meeting. Raju Gowda said if it was not done, legislators loyal to Yeddyurappa themselves would convene one.

He claimed that more than 55 MLAs, 15 MLCs and eight MPs attended the meeting.