Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 6: Amid reports that Yediyurappa camp is sulking at union home minister, Amit Shah's statement that the next Karnataka assembly election will be fought under the leadership of chief minister, Basavaraj Bommai, three ministers have come in support of Shah's announcement.

It is said that Yediyurappa and his camp feel that there was no need for such an announcement and it was premature as the election is far away. Senior leader and minister, K S Eshwarappa, has already expressed his displeasure at the statement.

Three state ministers, however, have supported the statement. Former deputy chief minister and minister for water resources, Govind Karjol, urban development minister, Byrathi Basavaraj, and minister for cooperation, S T Somashekhar, have expressed themselves in support of Amit Shah's statement. They have also praised Bommai's style of functioning. It may be recalled that Shah, speaking at Davanagere last week, had expressed his appreciation for Bommai's working style. He also had indicated that Bommai will be the next chief ministerial candidate of the BJP, which did not go well with some BJP leaders. Eshwarappa had said that he does not know under what context Shah said so, but expressed his support for collective leadership for the election.

Reacting to questions at Bagalkot on Sunday, Govind Karjol said there is no confusion about what Shah had said and that it is the established practice to fight elections under the chief minister. He said that Bommai is young and efficient. He refused to comment on Eshwarappa's dissatisfaction. Speaking at Davanagere, minister Byrathi Basavaraj said that the election will be held under Bommai's leadership. Somashekhar too said that Shah's statement is final on this issue. He said that Bommai is capable and functions without hurting others. He asserted that irrespective of what others say or feel, Shah's statement is final.