Team Mangalorean - Airport Beat

Mangalore: State panchayat raj and rural development minister Jagadish Shettar declined to respond to any questions from mediapersons here on the issue of leadership of the state government.

Shettar flew in from Bangalore and was on his way to Dharmasthala to attend a programme. He parried questions on change of leadership but only said that he had always been his duties given by the party like a disciplined soldier. He said he would always be committed to the decisions taken by the party high command. He would discuss the matter only at the legislature party's meeting and would not issue any public statements.

Speaking about former chief minister Yeddyurappa, he expressed confidence that through legal battle he would come out clean in the cases filed against him. He also said he was happy about the anticipatory bail obtained by Yeddyurappa.

It may be recalled here that the former CM has lately intensified its efforts to dislodge Sadananda Gowda and install Shettar in his place. Yeddyurappa is said to be not keen in projecting himself to be made CM with so many cases haunting him.

However, with the granting of an anticipatory bail by the court, his camp has been emboldened and pressure is being mounted on the high command to make Shettar the CM. Shettar's body language suggested that he was not averse to the idea either.