Yeddyuurappa asks his wards to leave official residence

BANGALORE: Aiming at deflecting accusations of nepotism after saving his chair, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has asked his son and daughter to shift from his official residence here immediately.

"The Chief Minister asked his son B Y Vijendra and daughter Umadevi to shift from his Race Course official residence yesterday and they obliged him immediately," an official attached to Chief Minister's secretariat told PTI.

Vijendra and Umadevi and her husband Sohan Kumar were staying with Yeddyurappa and his elder son B Y Raghavendra, MP, used to frequently visit him.

Yeddyurappa came under attack from the opposition for denotifying lands favouring his two sons, son-in-law and allotment of land to her daughter. While reports emerged that the party was wanting him to make way for a successor, Yeddyurappa staved off the challenge to his leadership and BJP yesterday announced that he will continue in office.

The official said Yeddyurappa had issued a strict directive to his secretaries not to be influenced by the words of his family members on any issue and bring those instances to his notice.

The directive came in the wake of BJP high command asking him to keep away his relatives from interfering in administration.

"I will keep those selfish people and my kin away from the administration. I will give good governance in the coming two years' tenure," Yeddyurappa said while participating at a function here.