Facing serious rebellion, Yeddyurappa sacks 4 ministers

Faced with a serious rebellion threatening the stability of the first-ever BJP government in the south, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday sacked four dissident ministers and accused the opposition Congress and JD(S) of attempting to topple his government.

On a day of swift developments, Yeddyurappa recommended to Governor HR Bhardwaj to drop from the Cabinet - Shivaraj Thangadagi, Venkataramanappa, PM Narendraswamy and D Sudhakar. The sacked ministers were independents who had lent crucial support to Yeddyurappa when the BJP failed to get majority in the May 2008 Assembly polls.

Yeddyurappa said two-three senior ministers would be asked to quit to pave way for induction of five or six new faces into his Cabinet shortly. "We are fully confident that the BJP government will prove its majority according to the mandate given by the people whenever such an occasion arises on the floor of the House", he told reporters.

Yeddyurappa accused the Congress of continuing its 'habit' of entering into an 'immoral relationship' with the JD(S) to topple a democratically-elected government. "For the first time in the history of Karnataka, each legislator is offered between Rs 20 crore and Rs 30 crore (to shift loyalty) and it (money) already been handed over to their family members", the Chief Minister alleged but didn't elaborate.

In a related development, senior JD(S) leader MC Nanaiah met the Governor and sought his 'intervention' contending that there is a 'constitutional crisis' in the state, where 'anarchy' is prevailing as far as the Government is concerned.