Yeddyurappa meets BJP top brass, confident of reinstatement as Karnataka CM

New Delhi, Mar 22 (ANI): Karnataka strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is mounting pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership for his reinstatement as Karnataka chief minister, on Thursday said he is confident that the party will take an appropriate decision in this regard.

Yeddyurappa, who had a detailed meeting with the BJP top brass, including party president Nitin Gadkari here, said he was happy with outcome of the meeting.

"We had a very detailed and successful meeting with Shri Nitin Gadkariji, Shri Arun Jaitleyji, Shri Dharmendra Pradhanji, Shri Ramlalji. I am happy with the outcome of the meeting. Party had asked me to step down from post of chief minister after Lokayukta gave a report against me. The judgement of the High Court has held the report illegal and no action is being taken against me," said Yeddyurappa.

"On the basis of the report, I have made this request to party president; party president had said that 'I will be reinstated once cleared by the court'. I am confident party president and party will take the right decision in the interest of the party and people of Karnataka. Party president conveyed to us he will take appropriate decision in the light of our interest," he added.

Karnataka Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda had, however, earlier in the day said that there would be no change of leadership in the state for now.

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 following allegations of corruption.

The Karnataka High Court had earlier this month granted a major relief to Yeddyurappa by setting aside the former Lokayukta's report on illegal mining, which indicted him.

The court also quashed the permission to register an FIR, granted by Karnataka Governor H. R. Bhardwaj, against Yeddyurappa.

The high court shot down the Yeddyurappa section of the Lokayukta report on the ground that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself, and that there was no evidence of favours granted or misuse of his position.

Following the high court's judgement, Yeddyurappa has stepped up his demand for reinstatement as chief minister. (ANI)