Amid reports that many BJP MLAs from flood-hit areas in North Karnataka were preoccupied with dissident activities in resorts and hotels, ignoring the plight of those affected, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday apologised to the people and vowed to work for them.
"In the backdrop of the happenings, as Chief Minister, I apologise to the people of the state. We will take care to see such incidents don't take place in future and will work unitedly for the people's welfare," he told reporters in Bangalore.
His comments come in the wake of reports that many MLAs and ministers loyal to rebel ministers from Bellary district -- G Karunakara Reddy, G Janardhana Reddy and B Sreeramulu -- seeking Yeddyurappa's ouster, camped in Hyderabad and Goa, when they should have been attending to grievances of people, suffering after the recent unprecedented floods.
Later speaking in Bellary, Yeddyurappa also dismissed reports on the alleged role of senior BJP leader H N Ananth Kumar in "hatching conspiracy" with the Reddy brothers.
"Ananth Kumar's name is unnecessarily being dragged to link him to the Reddy brothers," the Chief Minister said. "Unnecessarily, some people are trying drag his name to create confusion", he said, adding the Lok Sabha member from Bangalore South is trying his best to find a solution to the issue.
"There is no such atmosphere. We are united, we are together", Yeddyurappa claimed.
Yeddyurappa also sought to downplay the dissident activities being spearheaded by the Reddy brothers.
"These incidents (dissident activities) have happened at a bad time. Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy, Sreeramulu and Ananth Kumar....we are all one. Small incidents....we should forget. Unitedly, we should pay attention to the state's development...we have to go to flood-hit areas", he said.
Yeddyurappa also expressed confidence that the crisis would be resolved today or tomorrow under the leadership of Ananth Kumar. In the interest of the State, it would be good for the Reddy brothers and Sreeramulu to cooperate, he added.
Meanwhile, sources close to Ananth Kumar, who is also party General Secretary, told PTI that he was neither involved in dissident activities nor is supporting the rebels.
They said Ananth Kumar visited Hubli on October 25 to attend a private function, during which some district party leaders paid him a courtesy call.
The sources said Ananth Kumar is now engaged in discussions with the party's central leaders to resolve the crisis.
Yeddyurappa also said that Home Minister P Chidambaram, has assured more central assistance to the State for flood-relief works. Law Minister M Veerappa Moily would visit flood-affected areas of north Karnataka on Tuesday, he added. PTI
