Bharatiya Janata Party's National President, Nitin Gadkari is in Bangalore to fuse the prevailing rift between the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda during the two-day Chintan Manthan Baithak (brainstorming session) which began Friday.
Ahead of the meeting, the national president met Yeddyurappa and his supporters who want to reinstate the former CM.
A day prior to Chintan Manthan earlier on Thursday, Yeddyurappa, who has laid claim to the top post, hosted a luncheon at his official residence at Race Course, Bangalore, showing his strength.
Around 60-70 BJP legislators, including state BJP President K.S. Eshwarappa, were present.
Sadananda Gowda also turned up at the luncheon in the morning and stayed for some time.
"We are all party workers, whatever the national leadership decides we will follow it," said the state BJP chief Eshwarappa.
Meanwhile, the former CM has set Feb. 27 as the ultimatum for the BJP's central leadership to reinstate him as Chief Minister in the state.
Hosting another luncheon at his residence, Yeddyurappa, who turns 69 on Monday (Feb. 27) announced that on his birthday, he will decide his future political course of action.
Meanwhile, amid internal political turmoil about BJP leadership in the state, Sadananda Gowda said that he will continue functioning as the CM.
"I am the chief minister and I will remain the chief minister. I will present the next budget, have no doubts about it," DNA quoted Sadananda Gowda as saying.
Speaking to reporters, at a farmers interaction programme at Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, Sadananda Gowda took a dig at Yeddyurappa's luncheon meeting and said that he will not get involved in putting up shows for himself or to keep someone else in good humour. He will participate in the programmes that are of public interest.
Earlier, Yeddyurappa resigned from the Chief Minister's post after a Lokayukata report indicted him on illegal mining scam six months ago.
He handpicked Sadananda Gowda as his successor. However, the cause of the rift is the issue of Yeddyurappa's reinstatement as the chief minister, which seems to be gaining hold.
