New Delhi, July 7 (IBNS): Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda is likely to resign from his political chair amid the ongoing crisis in the state, said reports on Saturday.
According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, Gowda is likely to resign Saturday evening.
Gowda will meet top leaders of the party in the national capital in the evening before a final decision is taken on the leadership issue in the south Indian state.
"At 6 pm, Gowda will reach Delhi. He will meet senior BJP leaders," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said while addressing a press conference after the party's core group meeting on Saturday.
"He will meet LK Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitely," he said.
Prasad said the final decision on the ongoing crisis will be taken after Gowda meets BJP top brass on Saturday.
"We will inform you (media persons) about the decision after the meeting," he said.
Rural and Panchayati Raj Minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar, who is likely to take over as the next Chief Minister, is a close associate of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who wants the removal of Gowda.
The move to replace D V Sadananda Gowda signals the BJP central leadership bowing to intense pressure from Yeddyurappa, whose supporters, including a number of cabinet ministers and MLAs, had vowed revolt unless their demand was met.
"I am ready for any decision. I will not treat any decision as either sweet or bitter," Gowda, who was sworn in to power 11 months ago following the somewhat reluctant exit of Yeddyurappa, who had become entangled in an illegal mining scandal, had said on Wednesday.
The turmoil had resurfaced last week after at least eight Karnataka minister filed their resignations and around 50 MLAs were touted to follow suit unless Gowda, who has become increasingly popular among Yeddyurappa supporters, was replaced.
The crisis was averted after senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley intervened to assure the Yeddyurappa loyalists that their grievances will be heard.
