No question of changing Karnataka CM: Gadkari

Bangalore, Feb.24 (ANI): Warning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Karnataka to set its house in order, party president Nitin Gadkari on Friday said there was no question of removing Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda and also rubbished reports of a crisis of confidence in the southern state.

Reacting to former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's alleged ultimatum to reinstate him in office by February 27, Gadkari played it down.

"There is no political crisis, the party is united. After the UP polls, we have a Lok Sabha by-poll in Karnataka. There are small issues, we will solve the problems," he said while addressing the media after his meeting with Yeddyurappa on Friday.

He further said that the Karnataka BJP core group has been invited to Delhi on March 3 to discuss the issue.

Gadkari met Yeddyurappa and Gowda in Bangalore on Friday.

The BJP is now in a huddle with all its MLAs and MPs to try and solve the crisis.

The central leadership of the party has reportedly told Yeddyurappa that there will be no leadership change in Karnataka.

Gadkari has asked Yeddyurappa to take up the matter with BJP parliamentary board in Delhi.

Yeddyurappa has warned that if he is not reinstated as chief minister, he will decide on his future course of action. He has also accused Gowda of getting too close to former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda.

Yeddyurappa was forced to resign as chief minister over six months ago after a Lokayukta report indicted him for illegal mining. (ANI)