Amid hunt for new C M, strong support for Yeddyurappa

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi/Bangalore:  Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh have reached Bangalore’s Ashoka Hotel and the party is all set to pick a new Chief Minister in Karnataka. Alongside, a "BS Yeddyurappa must stay" chorus is getting stronger.

The Chief Minister had reluctantly agreed to resign yesterday, 24 hours after he was indicted for accepting kickbacks from a mining company

The report that is pushing him out of his office was prepared by Santosh Hegde, the Lokayukta or ombudsman of Karnataka. Mr Hegde finds politicians from different parties guilty of permitting or participating in illegal mining - 16,000 crores have been lost over the last few years, concludes Mr Hedge. Among the political heavyweights faulted are Janardhana and Karunakara Reddy, both ministers in the current government. 

Yesterday, when the BJP’s central leadership ordered Mr Yeddyurappa to step down, all the BJP power centres in the state, including the Reddy brothers, overtly bowed to the high command’s wish on Yeddyurappa’s exit. Eventually, so did Mr Yeddyurappa.

On Friday morning, the Reddys challenged Mr Hedge’s report and said that it incorrectly stated that they were directors of Obulapurum Mining Company (OBC) at the time of the company’s alleged misconduct. 

Other BJP leaders then began joining the chorus against the Hegde report, the most explosive parts of which were leaked before he officially presented it to the government earlier this week. "The Lokayukta report has lost its sanctity - it leaked," said an MP from Bangalore, DB Chandre Gowda.

And then came the manifestation of the vast political support Mr Yeddyurappa still enjoys. "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," Mr Gowda said.

MLAs too have begun coming out in support of Mr Yeddyurappa and sources say a significant number of party leaders is standing by him - perhaps as many as 12 to 14 BJP MPs and 50 to 60 MLAs at the moment, though the situation is seen as very fluid. 

"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. Deve Gowda has said his party won’t survive if Yeddyurappa stays for another two years as CM," said state Housing Minister, V Somanna.

It’s this sort of propping up that emboldened Mr Yeddyurappa to yesterday defy 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 Mr 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.

Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leaders who have travelled from Delhi to Bangalore to serve as observers as their MLAs elect the new Chief Minister, have reached Hotel Ashoka, where they are meeting the state BJP leaders. Mr Yeddyurappa has reportedly been promised that he will have a considerable say in who replaces him.

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.


Courtesy : NDTV