Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 22: Yediyurappa, who had felt relieved after finally being able to expand his ministry, is facing a new problem in the form of rebellion by disgruntled elements within his party. The unhappy leaders have been accusing Yediyurappa of giving too much importance to migrant legislators at the cost of those who have stayed loyal to the party through thick and thin.

Meetings that are held in the presence of Jagadish Shettar and Umesh Katti are giving rise to doubts and suspicions in the chief minister's camp while the party leaders are curious about them. As the anger of the 'original' BJP leaders can harm the party, Yediyurappa has asked the intelligence department to pool information and provide to him details of these meetings.

During the previous week, over 20 party leaders who were considered close to Yediyurappa had participated in a meeting that was held at the residence of Jagadish Shettar. This meeting had created ripples within the party circles. The chief minister had sought report about the meeting. But Shettar had said that no such activities have happened, and that the meeting was the imagination of the media.

Thereafter, Umesh Katti and people close to him met H D Kumaraswamy even as the assembly session was in progress. This move has surprised many including Yediyurappa. Although the leaders sought to explain off the meeting as cordial meeting, there were rumours within the party circles that Katti has rebelled against the chief minister.

A group of leaders who have been with the party since long complained to B L Santhosh about what they feel is injustice being imposed on them. It is said that this group has expressed indignation at the highhandedness of B S Yediyurappa and his sons.

The chief minister is keeping an eye on these activities. After the number of such activities increased, the chief minister has woken up to the dangers posed by the rebellion. He has asked the intelligence department to inform him about who, where and when such meetings are being arranged. He wants to know that is the purpose of the meetings of these leaders in five star hotels usually in the evenings. He also has sought list of participants of such meetings, agenda, how long the meetings lasted, where was the meeting held, and who chaired such meetings etc.