Bangalore : The BJP government in Karnataka on Saturday struck at supporters of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa by sacking cooperation minister BJ Puttaswamy and suspending Lok Sabha member G Basavaraj from the party.

The decision was announced by chief minister Jagadish Shettar and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief KS Eshwarappa. Eshwarappa said steps were being taken to get Basavaraj suspended from the Lok Sabha too.

The action comes a day ahead of Yeddyurappa launching his own outfit, Karnataka Janata Party, on Sunday. He had quit the BJP on November 30.