BSY’s berth pangs land BJP in spot

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If the ruling BJP is facing a rebellion from disappointed MLAs who were denied cabinet berths and can do absolutely nothing about it, the blame should like squarely on former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who was determined to grab as many cabinet berths as possible in the new ministry.

Result: The BJP leadership made a counter move by coming up with a full cabinet of 34 ministers—a limit prescribed by constitutional norms— with no berths left to placate the disappointed lot. In fact the original plan of the BJP was to induct 32 ministers and leave a couple vacant for last minute manouvres as they knew for sure that a section of legislators would revolt after the exercise was over.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a source in the BJP said talks to finalise the list of ministers went on till late Wednesday night, a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the Jagadish Shettar ministry.

Mr Yeddyurappa wanted his supporter, Sunil Vallyapure who represents Chincholi in Gulbarga district, to be accommodated in the new cabinet. Quick to react was the rival camp of former CM Sadananda Gowda who demanded a berth for Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty.

Though the Gowda camp succeeded in getting Mr Shetty's name cleared, it was reportedly shot down by RSS functionary Kalladka Bhat at the last minute with Kota Srinvas Poojary, a MLC, taking his place, said the sources. This disappointed Srinivas Shetty, a popular figure in the coastal districts, who has decided to quit from his Assembly seat and could be on his way into the JD(S), said sources.

With all the vacancies filled in one go, BJP leader look hapless even as a rebellion brews among unhappy legislators. Ironically, the rebel group led by former revenue minister Karunakar Reddy, includes a good number of MLAs from the BSY camp who were left without berths.

High command failed to act when I complained against some MLAs: DVS

Could top BJP leaders have averted the present confusion in the state over the leadership issue and the cabinet imbroglio? Yes, feels former chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

“When our legislators started criticising my government and openly castigated me in derogatory tones, I had complained to party seniors in Delhi. Had they acted then and sent out a stern message to everyone, the situation would have been different,” Mr Gowda told reporters.

“During my tenure, I was so disturbed that twice, I had decided to resign. One night around 3 am about 4 months ago, I got up and felt I should quit. Initially, my wife chided me but later, she agreed. The next morning, when I contacted a senior RSS leader, he told me that being a Swayam Sevak, I should follow the direction of our leaders and resign only if they asked me to. After this episode, I decided to continue as CM," he added.

"My resignation was due to political reasons. When I went to Delhi, party patriarch L.K. Advani was so disturbed that he told me that it was the saddest day in his life as he had to make a decision going against his conscience,” Mr Gowda disclosed.

Mr Gowda said he decided to resign after he felt the tussle for the CM seat may affect governance. “Our leaders did not call me to Delhi to discuss the leadership issue. I went on my own. When people are suffering due to drought, I felt the fight may affect the administration and so decided to give up the post,” he said.