Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel has dismissed as fake an audio clip that hints at possible leadership change in the State, and said it was not his voice.
The clip has gone viral, fuelling a new round of speculation on whether replacing the 78-year old Chief Minister is on the cards.
Yediyurappa, who is completing two years in office on July 26, visited Delhi last week, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda.
The trip raised questions in some quarters if the party is now working out a succession plan.
On his return from the national capital, Yediyurappa rubbished talks in some quarters that he is on way out, and asserted that the central leadership has asked him to continue in the post. The surfacing of the audio clip on Sunday has led to political buzz again on the leadership issue.
Kateel has termed the brief audio as "fake" and has demanded an inquiry into the tape where the talk was about "removing the entire team" without mentioning Yeddyurappa''s name.