Lokayukta to submit illegal mining report tomorrow, debate on Yeddyurappa's future

BANGALORE: Amid intense speculation on the fate of the indicted chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde will submit his report on mining scam to the state government on Wednesday.

All eyes would be on the BJP central leadership's decision on whether it would ask Yeddyurappa, widely credited with building the party in the State in the last three decades culminating in installation of its first government in the south, to quit or not.

The report, running into thousands of pages, is slated to be handed over to the chief secretary S V Ranganath.

The embattled Yeddyurappa, who rode out the storm earlier -- whether it's challenge to his leadership by dissidents or allegations of de-notification of land -- in his three-year tenure, has said he would study the report once it's given and will "take appropriate action".

Besides Yeddyurappa, the Lokayukta's final report on illegal mining has indicted four ministers including Reddy brothers -- G Janardhana and G Karunakara -- and B Sriramulu, all from mineral-rich Bellary district.

The findings put the loss to state exchequer because of illegal mining between March 2009 and April 2010 at more than Rs 1,800 crore.

Yeddyurappa, who held confabulations with loyalist ministers and senior party leaders today, has maintained he would continue as chief minister for another two years, till the end of his term, but has also said he would abide by the decision of the party high-command.

Yeddyurappa has said he would meet the central leaders once the Lokayukta submits his report.

To a question, Hegde told PTI that Governor H R Bhardwaj has not sought a copy of the report.

The governor, perceived as being "hostile" by a section of BJP leaders, said on Sunday he would send a report to President Pratibha Patil once the illegal mining report "comes on record".