Bangalore:06 March 2013

Karnataka High Court Wednesday ordered issue of notice to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on a petition challenging an Election Commission order recognising him as the President of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP).

Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar gave the order on the petition filed by founder of KJP Padmanabha Prasanna Kumar challenging the recognition on the ground Yeddyurappa had violated rules while declaring himself as the party President.

The court had on February 27 ordered issue of notice to the Election Commission.

Prasanna Kumar had formally handed over the reigns of the party to Yeddyurappa at a rally in Haveri on Dec 9 last year.

Election Commission subsequently recognised Yeddyurappa as the President of KJP and rejected Prasanna Kumar's claim as the founder President.

Meanwhile, KJP member V Dhananjaya Kumar has filed a defamation suit agaist the petitioner before a magistrate court here.