Amid indications that the BJP high command may ask him to step down in the wake of alleged land scams, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday left for Puttaparthi to “seek the blessings” of Sri Satya Sai Baba.

There is no official word yet on Yeddyurappa’s visit to Delhi as per the direction of his party top brass.

Yeddyurappa has so far struck a defiant note on quitting and cancelled his visit to Delhi Sunday night after which he has been summoned to meet the leaders on Monday.

Yeddyurappa left for Puttaparthi to participate in the ongoing 85th birthday celebrations of Satya Sai Baba, sources said.

The party’s core group which met in Delhi on Sunday had authorised BJP president Nitin Gadkari to take a decision on the issue of Yeddyurappa’s continuance.

The sources said the leaders felt that it was becoming increasingly untenable for Yeddyurappa to continue in office at a time when the party was carrying on a campaign against the Congress-led UPA at the national level on the telecom scam.

Karnataka Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said, “We want Yeddyurappa to continue. There is not alternative to him. The BJP high command has not taken any decision”.

State Home Minister R Ashok, who met BJP President Nitin Gadkari, claimed “there is no crisis in Karnataka. Only opposition parties are making this ‘hungama’. So I think today or tomorrow, it will be solved by Central leaders.”

Meanwhile, JDS leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy alleged that besides Yeddyurappa, several ministers were also involved in land scams.

“If they have any morality, they must resign…not only Yeddyurappa but his entire cabinet should resign,” he said.

Yeddu appears defiant, says he has backing of 120 MLAs

An embattled Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, facing the threat of loosing power in the wake of allegations of land scams erupting against him, on Sunday deferred his Delhi visit to Monday.

As uncertainty over his continuance loomed large, Yeddyurappa went into consultations with his confidants throughout the day.

JD-S on Sunday released some more documents allegedly indicating involvement of Yeddyurappa in some financial irregularities.

In another development, minister for panchayat raj and rural development Jagadish Shettar, who has emerged as a candidate for chief ministerial post in the event of BJP deciding to ease out Yeddyurappa, said he was not in the race for the top job.

Shettar, who had joined hands with rebels, refused to react to the on-going developments in his party, while talking to reporters.