The internal fight in the Karnataka BJP came to the fore on Wednesday after a senior minister in the B.S. Yediyurappa cabinet wrote to the governor, accusing the chief minister of undue interference in his ministry.
Rural Development Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, in his letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala, alleged that Yediyurappa had violated multiple rules and procedures in sanctioning funds in his department.
“I am at pains, to bring to your kind notice, some of the recent actions of our Respected Chief Minister relating to my Department, which amounts to direct interference in the affairs of Ministers in-charge of Departments, in clear violation of Karnataka (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1977 and also against the established practices and procedures relating to the affairs of the State Administration,” Eshwarappa said in his letter.
Reports said the minister has also copied the letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda.
Claiming that the President of Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat is a close relative of Yediyurappa, Esharappa said the chief minister sanctioned some of the civil works in the ZP in violation of the Panchayati Raj Act.
“If this trend continues... I do not know where I stand as a Minister-in-charge of the Department,” he said.
On March 4, Eshwarappa alleged that Yediyurappa had sanctioned works worth Rs 460 crore, bypassing him.
The allegation against Yediyurappa from his former confidante came at a time when the chief minister is already facing heat in an audio tape case.
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted permission for probe against Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, in a case related to allegedly trying to lure Sharanagouda Patil, son of Gurmitkal JD(S) MLA Naganagouda Patil, to resign from the post.