Bangalore: After succeeding in getting his candidate RDPR Minister Jagadish Shettar the Chief Minister’s post, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa now seems to be readying for a fresh battle to ensure that the deputy chief minister’s post too is given to someone from his camp. Yeddyurappa’s latest move is likely to delay the process of appointing the Deputy CM and the party may even decide against having the post to avoid fresh dissensions.
On Monday, ministers and MLAs loyal to Yeddyurappa held a meeting at the Lingayat strongman’s residence in Dollar’s Colony to discuss the issue. During the meeting, the leaders discussed three names: Shobha Karadlaje, Raju Gowda and Revu Naik Belmagi and decided to ask the high command to make either one of them Deputy CM, sources said.
The Yeddyurappa camp’s latest salvo is said to be a move to prevent the creation of a parallel power centre vis a vis him within the party and the government. This is also expected to cause some heartburn among other Deputy CM aspirants — K S Eshwarappa, R Ashok and Govind Karjol, who are in the race.
Ashok held a meeting with MLAs from Bangalore, while Karjol held discussions with some MLAs at his residence. Eshwarappa and other senior leaders met BJP General Secretary of Karnataka Dharmendra Pradhan at the party office to discuss the issue.
Political observers feel that by proposing new names, the former CM’s camp is adding to the confusion. There is no arrangement for a Dy CM in any of the BJP ruled states, except in the case of its coalition government in Bihar. Notwithstanding this exception, the BJP may go for DyCM post in the poll bound year to accommodate Vokkaliga or Kuruba leaders to get the caste matrix right.
Meanwhile, hectic lobbying is said to be going on for ministerial berths. On Monday, MLAs met Pradhan and Shettar to stake their claims. “There is a possibility that all the existing ministers will continue to hold the same portfolios, while the 11 vacant cabinet berths would be filled,” sources said.
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