BJP rejects rebels olive branch

The BJP Friday rejected the olive branch extended by some disqualified party MLAs in Karnataka. Now that the B S Yeddyurappa government has survived the immediate scare and with the numbers tilting in its favour after resignation of a couple of opposition MLAs,the party made it clear it was in no mood to take back rebels.

The BJP leadership,sources said,believe the High Court would give a favourable ruling as far as disqualification of the party MLAs are concerned although it is not confident if the Speakers action against Independent legislators would stand the legal scrutiny.

Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu denied the party has launched Operation Kamal to lure away opposition legislators. Firmly rejecting the overtures by rebel MLAs,he said,They are no longer in the BJP as they went against the party.