Karnataka CM Gowda to present state budget amid growing political storm

Bangalore, Mar 20 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda is expected to present the state budget on Wednesday amidst a growing political storm over B.S. Yeddyurappa's reinstatement to the top post.

With a 48-hour deadline issued by Yeddyurappa to the BJP central leadership ending today, speculation is rife in the media that the former state chief minister could in fact return to present the budget.

Gowda, however, on his part appeared to be confident that he would be preside over the budget session.

"I have been authorised by my party to present the budget tomorrow. So accordingly, I will do it. Certainly, all the MLAs will be present in the house during the budget session and they will participate in the budget session," he said.

Meanwhile, the MLAs backing Yeddyurappa MLAs have boycotted the first day of the budget session of the Karnataka Assembly, which began earlier in the day.

Moreover, Yeddyurappa, who had earlier expressed the hope that the BJP High Command will take some steps to keep their promise, has refused to come to New Delhi for a meeting with the central leadership.

Yeddyurappa has, however, remained adamant and refused to leave Bangalore. His loyalists want the BJP top brass hold the meeting in Bangalore.

The BJP central leadership had promised to depute an emissary after the current budget session to resolve the crisis.

The BJP central leadership had forced Yeddyurappa to quit in July 2011 after he was indicted by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.

Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde's inquiry into mining graft in Karnataka had accused Yeddyurappa and other key officials for causing a loss of at least 160 billion rupees to the state exchequer between 2006 and 2010.

Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation on July 31 to Karnataka Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj, following allegations of corruption. (ANI)