The resistance from within the ruling BJP against the Karnataka Government’s plan to create a new Vijayanagara district by carving out six taluks from Ballari is gaining momentum, with a party MLA on Sunday reminding Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa of their support to him in occupying the top post.

The Chief Minister had earlier this month asked the chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar to place the proposal on the creation of the district before the next Cabinet meeting.

If approved, Vijayanagara would become the state’s 31st district.

“When we heard about the proposal, we doubted for a second on whether we got elected from the BJP or not. In Ballari, there are four MLAs from the BJP. All of us should have been called,our opinion gathered and a decision could have been arrived at,” Harapanahalli MLA Karunakara Reddy said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “We have the highest regard and respect for Yediyurappa. But, he being an experienced person should not have moved so swiftly on the issue.” Minister B Sriramulu and BJP MLA from Ballari city G Somashekara Reddy had also opposed the move to carve a separate district.

Somashekhar Reddy on Saturday had even threatened to quit if Ballari was split to create a new Vijayanagar district, following which Yediyurappa said he would convene a meeting of MLAs from Ballari to discuss on the issue. Karunakara Reddy and others were particularly upset with Chief Minister over his swift action towards creating new district, immediately after receiving proposal from a delegation led by former Congress MLA from Vijayanagara constituency Anand Singh.