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To target Congress on graft, BJP decides to dump Yeddyurappa

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: BJP seems set to get rid of Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, in a move shaped by its desire to step up its offensive against Congress on the issue of corruption. Sources in the party said the leadership has decided to ask Yeddyurappa to step down on Wednesday after Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde releases its report indicting the chief minister in the mining scam. Sources said BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, who spoke with the chief minister after his return from Mauritius, had been assured by the latter that he would abide by the wishes of the central leadership which has been accused of double standards for ignoring the charges against the Lingayat strongman at a time when it has launched a high-wattage campaign against Congress on corruption. Sources said party general secretary Ananth Kumar and state party chief K S Eshwarappa along with rural development minister Jagdish Shettar were in contention for the chief ministership, stressing that Yeddyurappas views would be a big factor in deciding the issue. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Gadkari confirmed this much, stressing that the chief minister had agreed to follow whatever he (Gadkari) decided. Speaking to reporters in Bangalore hours later, Yeddyurappa confirmed that he had indeed given a commitment to follow Gadkaris decision. Significantly, Gadkari said his decision on Karnataka leadership would be based on the Lokayukta report. With Justice Hegde having already confirmed reports that the Lokayuktas report into the mining scam has indicted the chief minister along with others, there is little doubt as to the call that Gadkari will take. He raised the ante against corruption further by targeting the PM, something which shows that the BJP would not like to leave a chink in its side. Yeddyurappa, who has so far shrugged aside demands for his resignation, kept up his defiance. Making his first public appearance since the Lokayuktas report censuring him for the mining scam became known, he asserted that he was going to be the chief minister for another two years. I am going to be the chief minister for another two years, he said.

                                                                                                               
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