Will the BJP spring a dark horse to succeed BSY in Karnataka?

By: R Mohan Babu

@the_news_21 

Bengaluru: It is probably easier to guess who among Indian sportspersons will win medals in the ongoing Olympics in Japan. But it is certainly difficult to name the 38^th Chief Minister, who will succeed B S Yediyurappa, and become the head of the government to run the administration from Vidhana Soudha, the state Secretariat.

Making a guess as to whether troika of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah-J P Nadda will choose from one of the half a dozen names making rounds or will throw in a dark horse will certainly be a gamble.

Names of Union Minister Prahalad Joshi, former Union Minister Basangouda Ramangouda Patil Yatnal, BJP General Secretary C T Ravi, Karnataka Minister C P Yogeshwar and legislator Arvind Bellad are making rounds. Names of Ministers in the outgoing ministry Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, Laxman Savadi and Dr C N Ashwathnarayan are also being circulated. The list is growing by the hour and will continue till the arrival of the central team.

But the BJP leadership is holding cards close to its chest and has not even dropped hints. It is no secret that many, in the fond hope of getting at least a ministerial berth, have been peddling their names in the media with their contacts. No leader has been summoned to Delhi for consultation also.

The BJP, which was critical of High Command culture in the Congress, has been doing the same now. The consultation will be façade and the leader will be imposed by Delhi. It is deputing BJP national general secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to elicit the opinion of legislators on the new chief minister. Pradhan has been associated with Karnataka politics in the past and is familiar with caste dynamics and local leadership. The two would be in the city on Tuesday. 

Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa, who is credited with bringing the first Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka and first saffron party administration in the South, resigned earlier in the day after completing two years in office. Yediyurappa, who was chief minister four times, could not complete full term even once. He had to resign twice failing to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Ever since it became evident that Yediyurappa is set to go, heads of various mutts (religious institutions) have been rallying support for Yediyurappa. In an unusual move, even two powerful Lingayat leaders in Congress—Shyamanur Shivashankarappa and M B Patil—had expressed their unhappiness over the BJP decision to remove Yediyurappa.

It is being touted as a strategy by the Congress to woo Lingayat community, which is in sizeable number. It is claimed that Lingayats form about 20 per cent of the population and have been having controlling the power for a long time. The BJP is weary of antagonising the community and is treading carefully. The party is well aware of the losses it suffered after replacing Yediyurappa nearly a decade ago. He rebelled and formed the Karnataka Janata Party and caused massive damage to the BJP at the hustings. Later, he returned to the BJP fold.

It is rumoured that Yediyurappa was toying with the idea of rebelling and going with the Congress. Political circles are agog that the BJP had sought help from the JD (S) in the event of Yediyurappa rebelling again. It is also a fact that Yediyurappa is closer to being an octogenarian and lacks the zeal and energy to mobilise support like earlier. He cannot be sure of the numbers backing him. Most people fear Modi-Shah combine, which is known to act tough against detractors. Also, another theory is many legislators are caught on camera in sexual acts and that, in fact, has become a blackmailing point the state.

In fact, there were rumours that Yediyurappa will be continued in the wake of flood and Corona situation in the state. The intriguing remarks of Arun Singh in Goa on Sunday further gave credence to continuation theory. But the suspense ended around noon with Yediyurappa declaring that he was resigning. He has been saying that he has not recommended any name and does not want to accept gubernatorial posts. He would continue to build the party in the state.

According to BJP sources, the party had told Yediyurappa at the time of making him chief minister that it was making an age exception in his case and he should make way for others after two years. There is nothing much to read on the developments.

Will the Central leadership opt for a Lingayat man or will risk by appointing a leader for the future with elections about two years away? The troika are known to take risks and Karnataka may be no different. Only time will reveal what the men in Delhi want for Karnataka. Will it be a Lingayat or Vokkaliga or Brahmin or Dalit? The result will be known in a couple of days.

By: R Mohan Babu

@the_news_21 

Bengaluru: It is probably easier to guess who among Indian sportspersons will win medals in the ongoing Olympics in Japan. But it is certainly difficult to name the 38^th Chief Minister, who will succeed B S Yediyurappa, and become the head of the government to run the administration from Vidhana Soudha, the state Secretariat.

Making a guess as to whether troika of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah-J P Nadda will choose from one of the half a dozen names making rounds or will throw in a dark horse will certainly be a gamble.

Names of Union Minister Prahalad Joshi, former Union Minister Basangouda Ramangouda Patil Yatnal, BJP General Secretary C T Ravi, Karnataka Minister C P Yogeshwar and legislator Arvind Bellad are making rounds. Names of Ministers in the outgoing ministry Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, Laxman Savadi and Dr C N Ashwathnarayan are also being circulated. The list is growing by the hour and will continue till the arrival of the central team.

But the BJP leadership is holding cards close to its chest and has not even dropped hints. It is no secret that many, in the fond hope of getting at least a ministerial berth, have been peddling their names in the media with their contacts. No leader has been summoned to Delhi for consultation also.

The BJP, which was critical of High Command culture in the Congress, has been doing the same now. The consultation will be façade and the leader will be imposed by Delhi. It is deputing BJP national general secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to elicit the opinion of legislators on the new chief minister. Pradhan has been associated with Karnataka politics in the past and is familiar with caste dynamics and local leadership. The two would be in the city on Tuesday. 

Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa, who is credited with bringing the first Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka and first saffron party administration in the South, resigned earlier in the day after completing two years in office. Yediyurappa, who was chief minister four times, could not complete full term even once. He had to resign twice failing to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Ever since it became evident that Yediyurappa is set to go, heads of various mutts (religious institutions) have been rallying support for Yediyurappa. In an unusual move, even two powerful Lingayat leaders in Congress—Shyamanur Shivashankarappa and M B Patil—had expressed their unhappiness over the BJP decision to remove Yediyurappa.

It is being touted as a strategy by the Congress to woo Lingayat community, which is in sizeable number. It is claimed that Lingayats form about 20 per cent of the population and have been having controlling the power for a long time. The BJP is weary of antagonising the community and is treading carefully. The party is well aware of the losses it suffered after replacing Yediyurappa nearly a decade ago. He rebelled and formed the Karnataka Janata Party and caused massive damage to the BJP at the hustings. Later, he returned to the BJP fold.

It is rumoured that Yediyurappa was toying with the idea of rebelling and going with the Congress. Political circles are agog that the BJP had sought help from the JD (S) in the event of Yediyurappa rebelling again. It is also a fact that Yediyurappa is closer to being an octogenarian and lacks the zeal and energy to mobilise support like earlier. He cannot be sure of the numbers backing him. Most people fear Modi-Shah combine, which is known to act tough against detractors. Also, another theory is many legislators are caught on camera in sexual acts and that, in fact, has become a blackmailing point the state.

In fact, there were rumours that Yediyurappa will be continued in the wake of flood and Corona situation in the state. The intriguing remarks of Arun Singh in Goa on Sunday further gave credence to continuation theory. But the suspense ended around noon with Yediyurappa declaring that he was resigning. He has been saying that he has not recommended any name and does not want to accept gubernatorial posts. He would continue to build the party in the state.

According to BJP sources, the party had told Yediyurappa at the time of making him chief minister that it was making an age exception in his case and he should make way for others after two years. There is nothing much to read on the developments.

Will the Central leadership opt for a Lingayat man or will risk by appointing a leader for the future with elections about two years away? The troika are known to take risks and Karnataka may be no different. Only time will reveal what the men in Delhi want for Karnataka. Will it be a Lingayat or Vokkaliga or Brahmin or Dalit? The result will be known in a couple of days.