Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who was in Delhi on Wednesday to consult top brass on expansion of the cabinet, has been told to wait for at least 3 to 4 days. This is BSY’s second visit in less than a month seeking approval for cabinet expansion.
The message from the top leaders has put a huge question mark over the continuation of BSY as the chief minister and has also furthered the theory of replacing BSY by the end of the year.
It’s been a week since by-election results have come, that too much in favour of the Lingayat strongman, and the wait for cabinet expansion has only got longer creating a sense of anxiety in the rank and file of the state BJP.
BSY was in Delhi September last in connection with cabinet expansion and had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president J.P. Nadda along with a host of other leaders. He was asked to wait for a couple of days. As the Election Commission announced the Bihar elections and bypolls to two seats in Karnataka, the expansion plans were put on hold.
During his earlier visit, the Prime Minister had suggested BSY to rest while many top leaders had tried to cajole the Karnataka CM to make way for younger leadership. The Daily Guardian had exclusively and widely reported the thinking in the top leadership about transition in the state BJP by 15 December.
Ever since, BSY has been battling the theory saying he will complete his full term even as his son BY Vijayendra, dubbed as super CM, was doing his best to duck all the allegations of corruption and nepotism. In fact the recent by-election win in Sira had come as a shot in the arm for camp BSY.
However, if anything to go by BSY’s Wednesday visit to the national capital, the buzz of replacing BSY gets more credence as cabinet expansion which is the prerogative of the chief minister isn’t exactly for him to exercise!
Sources privy to certain developments in Delhi told TDG that BSY was keen on meeting with the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah but couldn’t get an appointment and this was the first sign of snub. Unperturbed, BSY then sought appointment with Nadda. “He was told to put on hold plans of cabinet expansion as the Prime Minister and Home Minister are keen on change in leadership. BSY tried to put across his plans of major surgery in the cabinet and the winter session of the Assembly. An impatient Nadda cut short the conversation assuring BSY that he will get back in three to four days,’’ sources said.
Back in Bengaluru, several power centres have taken form with each group trying to get a better bargain. While Ramesh Jharkiholi is spearheading migrants (read MLAs who have joined the BJP from the JDS and the Congress), K.S. Eshwarappa is shepherding original saffron leaders. There is a third group which is operating under the guidance of national general secretary B.L. Santosh which is the most powerful among the three.
Such is the political weather in Karnataka that the next three days will chart the future course of the BJP in Karnataka. For now it’s just lull before the storm!