Sadananda Gowda to return as BJP State president?

Mangalore Today/ CNN-IBN

Bangalore, July 7, 2012: May seek the post of DyCM for Eshwarappa. His stepping down from the chief minister’s post becoming imminent, D V Sadananda Gowda is now understood to have been eyeing the State party president’s post.

Gowda, who on Saturday rushed to Delhi to hold talks with the party bosses on his political future, is learnt to have told his confidants that he was ready to don the role of the party’s State unit president again, if offered by the high command.

 

Sources close to the chief minister said Gowda had even communicated his desire to lead the State unit to the incumbent K S Eshwarappa.

Gowda was the State unit president when the BJP came to power in Karnataka in 2008. While pushing himself for the State party chief’s post, Gowda would seek the post of deputy chief minister for Eshwarappa, sources said.

State unit chief

The proposal that Gowda be made the State unit chief was mooted by ministers close to him. Gowda, in turn, has promised to take up the cause of the ministers and ensure that they are not only retained in the new Cabinet but also given key portfolios, sources said.

Before announcing its decision to make Jagadish Shettar the next chief minister, the BJP high command wants to arrive at a decision on giving an honorable exit to Gowda who has maintained a good public image as a non-corrupt chief minister.

He was summoned by Delhi leaders to discuss various issues, including communicating the decision of the party asking him to step down.

Sources said, on Friday, soon after the State Cabinet meeting, Gowda held a marathon meeting with some of his ministerial colleagues where he reportedly stated that he would not be looking for any position.

Council chairman post

There was a suggestion for him to accept the legislative council chairman post, but he did not like it. But eventually, he agreed to be the party president, provided Eshwarappa agreed to step down.

When contacted by Deccan Herald, Eshwarappa said he wouldn’t mind stepping down if the party desired so. Asked what post would be offered to Gowda, he said, “We can’t ignore a person who has been the chief minister.

The party has to respect him and should give him a post where his contribution to the party will continue. But I am not sure what the decision of the party will be,” he said.

It is learnt that the high command is considering the suggestions made by the State leaders to make Eshwarappa the deputy chief minister.

When Eshwarappa’s attention was drawn to the Gowda community associations expressing their ire against dislodging him, Eshwarappa hit back saying, “Did we make Sadananda Gowda the CM by seeking the suggestion of any Vokkaliga association?

Some more Vokkaligas may get ministerial berths. How can someone brand us anti-Vokkaliga?”

Seeks time

It is said Gowda expressed his desire to continue as the chief minister till August first week when he completes one year in office.

He told his ministerial colleagues that certain government orders were yet to be issued to carry forward the announcements made in the budget he presented in March this year.

But some ministers were frank enough to tell him that it might be tough for him to face a section of his Cabinet colleagues who were hostile to him.