With one Vokkaliga leader set to exit from the top post in the state, another is trying his best to fill the vacuum. Now that it is almost certain that Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda will have to make way for rural development minister Jagadish Shettar, the BJP’s Vokkaliga face — home and transport minister R. Ashok— is lobbying hard for the post of deputy CM in the new government. The Vokaligas constitute 15 per cent of Karnataka’s population, second only to the Lingayats, the community of Mr Shettar.
Mr Ashok is camping in Delhi for the past three days and met all senior leaders seeking their blessings, said sources. Though he did not openly identify with the Yeddyurappa camp during the ‘oust DVS campaign’, he did join hands with Mr Shettar in attempts to dethrone Mr Gowda. Reason: Mr Ashok considers Mr Gowda his biggest rival as they hail from the same community. He knows that as long as Mr Gowda remains at the helm of affairs, he will have to be content with the tag of second best Vokkaliga leader the BJP has.
That Mr Ashok lent a generous helping hand to the attempts to topple Mr Gowda was no secret though he has been careful to cover his tracks saying he was a loyal party worker and will abide by any decision the top brass takes. “Though Mr Ashok has been actively involved in the campaign against Sadananda Gowda, he has told us that he cannot make his stance public as it would invite the wrath of the Vokkaligas. He wanted us to take the campaign to its logical end and promised us all necessary support”, confided a senior minister.
Mr Ashok met senior leaders and pleaded with them to create the deputy CM’s post. He reportedly told former BJP president Rajnath Singh that if the party asks Mr Gowda to step down, the Vokkaligas are sure to feel hurt and the best way to assuage their feelings is to give another member of the same community the job of Shettar’s deputy. Giving enough hints of a decision in his favour, the minister told reporters in Delhi: “Our central leaders have decided to effect a comprehensive change in the Karnataka state unit and ensure social justice. They are facing a Catch-22 situation on change of leadership and will face a tough time if the change is not made.”