Renuka tells Yeddy to sack Sreeramulu, save BJP

BANGALORE: The ruling BJP seems headed for another round of political turmoil, with voices being raised against the powerful Reddy brothers for the first time within the party.

Excise minister Renukacharya and a few MLAs, who have launched a ‘Reddy brothers hatao, BJP bacchao’ campaign, met Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa and demanded the ouster of Health Minister B Sreeramulu on charges of dereliction of duty. Sreeramulu, who is from Bellary, is close to Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakar Reddy.

Renukacharya told the Chief Minister that Sreeramulu was busy holding a yatra in Bellary, even as incidents of dengue deaths and gastroenteritis cases were being reported from many parts of the state, sources said.

Alleging that the state BJP was getting a bad name from the Health Minister’s actions, Renukacharya and his group told Yeddyurappa to sack Sreeramulu if the minister does not resign on his own, sources said.

Renukacharya and group, who backed the Reddys when they revolted against Yeddyurappa’s leadership last year, have reportedly pledged allegiance to the CM this time. They offered to stand by the party if the sacking of Sreeramulu leads to ‘any’ political development.

The CM on his part seems to be playing his cards close to his chest.

While he disapproved of the Swabhimani Yatra organised by the Reddys in Bellary, he also took care to soften his criticism.

After Yeddyurappa came out in public against the yatra, Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy flew to Bangalore to explain the purpose of his rally to Yeddyurappa.