Gadkari, who returned from his London visit on Friday, met several leaders individually, BJP sources told Deccan Herald, without disclosing any details. They added that the party top brass would hold discussions over the Karnataka situation once the Lokayukta submitted his report on illegal mining.
A senior BJP leader said: “Everyone in the party leadership knows that it is a difficult choice, of maintaining the party’s image and facing the ground reality [of Yeddyurappa’s clout]. But I can say the party has begun considering the possibility of sacrificing an electorally significant Yeddyurappa”.The likely indictment by the Lokayukta and a hostile governor in H R Bharadwaj would not help Yeddyurappa, who, the party leaders know, may even threaten to break the party. However, the party knows ,only too well, that it may not go beyond a certain limit to entertain his demands, despite the fact that the high command support to Yeddyurappa so far has already dented its anti-graft crusade, badly.
The senior leader added: “There is an increasing feeling among the party brass that it may required an extraordinary effort from Yeddyurappa to survive. He may not be third time lucky”. The politically powerful chief minister has shrugged off demands for his head twice – once in October, 2010 and again in May 2011.
Sources said the party leadership may summon Yeddyurappa once the report is submitted. They stressed the urgency in the matter as the monsoon session of Parliament would begin on August 1.
The session is likely to push the BJP to take a call on the future of the CM embroiled in several alleged corruption cases.