After flexing muscle, Yeddyurappa agrees to truce, will resign

Mtoday news / NDTV

Bangalore, July 29:  It is not for nothing that BS Yeddyurappa has been described as a politician with many lives.

On the day when this successor was to be selected in Bangalore, the Chief Minister of Karnataka proved why he could be so tough to replace. 75 of his party’s 120 MLAs were joined by 15 BJP MPs in declaring that Mr Yeddyurappa should stay in office, despite his indictment for corruption in a report on illegal mining.

 

It’s one of the BJP’s bigger uh-oh moments. Senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley flew to Bangalore today and spent the afternoon meeting with MLAs and MPs from Bangalore. The two delegates from Delhi are meant to serve as observers as the MLAs select the new Chief Minister. But their time has been spent so far in convincing Mr Yeddyurappa that he needs to spare his party further embarrassment and step down. Mr Yedduyrappa is scheduled to send his resignation to the Governor on Sunday. 

Ensuring that happens before Monday is vital for the BJP. Its combat plans for the Parliament session starting Monday are to ride the wave of public anger and frustration against the government for what seems like a never-ending list of scams. Targeting the UPA while keeping Mr Yeddyurappa in office would make for a hollow campaign.

Mr Yeddyurappa, emboldened by the tide of good cheer for him, has reportedly presented a list of demands to accompany his exit. The list includes his being named President of the BJP in Karnataka, and having a considerable say in who should replace him, and which ministers should form  the new cabinet. Mr Yeddyurappa and his supporters are pushing for Sadananda Gowda to be the next Chief Minister. Mr Gowda belongs to the Vokaliga community and is the MP from Udipi.

The ’Save Yeddyurappa’ campaign may fall short of a full-fledged revolt, but not for want of trying. "Karnataka BJP MPs are of the unanimous opinion that Mr Yeddyurappa should not resign. He should have taken the opinion of all elected representatives. We appeal to the high command to reconsider," said DB Chandre Gowda, an MP from Bangalore. "You all know he has said he will resign on 31st - but it is not the right time. Lok Sabha MPs have expressed their opinion," said Minister V Somanna.

The report on mining that forced Mr Yeddyurappa to offer his resignation was prepared by Santosh Hegde, the Lokayukta or ombudsman of Karnataka. Mr Hegde’s report finds politicians from different parties guilty of permitting or participating in illegal mining - 16,000 crores have been lost over the last four years, concludes Mr Hegde.


The report has been shared with Governor HR Bhardwaj, who has tried repeatedly to have Mr Yeddyurappa’s government dismissed. Both Mr Yeddyurappra and his party are aware that a formal split will allow the Governor to call for President’s Rule. It’s therefore in their best interest to work out their differences. So late this evening, an emissary deputed by Mr Yeddurappa reassured Mr Jaitley and Mr Singh that the Chied Minister remains loyal to his party.

The Chief Minister spent yesterday defying his party’s advice to resign immediately. He capitulated at around 5.30 pm, after BJP leaders in Delhi publicly said twice that they were certain he would follow the party line. Shortly before My Yeddyurappa wrote to BJP president Nitin Gadkari, accepting that he would resign, the Reddys indicated that they would obey whatever the party’s central leadership decided. This may have prompted Mr Yeddyurappa to accept that the game was over. Known for his superstitions, he has said that he will resign on July 31 instead of today for astrological reasons.



Contenders for next Chief Minister:

Jagadish Shettar

He is currently the Rural Development Minister in Karnataka. Mr Shettar is not a nationally-known figure, but being a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa can work in his favour. Or it can work against him - if Yeddyurappa wants to stay the dominant Lingayat leader.

Eshwarappa

He is the Karnataka BJP president and belongs to the backward caste. Mr Eshwarappa, too, is not a nationally-known figure.

Sadananda Gowda

Former BJP state president, Mr Gowda is a non-controversial leader. He belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.

Ananth Kumar

Long considered a Yeddyurappa rival, Mr Ananth Kumar is believed to be working against him behind his back. Publicly, however, he and Yeddyurappa put on a united front. Mr Kumar is known at the national level. But he is a Brahmin so does not command a large vote bank.

VS Acharya

Former Home Minister, Mr VS Acharya is a Yeddyurappa loyalist. He has faced trouble many times in the past. Mr Acharya is a Brahmin, which may work against him.

Suresh Kumar

He is the current Law Minister and has a very clean image. As a Brahmin, he may not have a large vote bank to count on but a non-controversial image may work in his favour.

Shobha Karandlaje

She is not really in the line to succeed Yeddyurappa. And her proximity to the Karnataka Chief Minister may work against her. Ms Karandlaje belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.