Faced with a serious rebellion threatening the stability of the first-ever BJP government in the south, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday sacked four dissident ministers and accused the opposition Congress and JD(S) of attempting to topple his government.

On a day of swift developments, Yeddyurappa recommended to Governor HR Bhardwaj to drop from the Cabinet - Shivaraj Thangadagi, Venkataramanappa, PM Narendraswamy and D Sudhakar. The sacked ministers were independents who had lent crucial support to Yeddyurappa when the BJP failed to get majority in the May 2008 Assembly polls.