Amidst speculation over the change in leadership, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who held marathon meetings with BJP top brass including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and national president J.P. Nadda besides a battery of Union ministers throughout the day in Delhi, heaved a sigh of relief as there were no talks of Yediyurappa making way for others.
Sources close to the developments that happened in Delhi said that the Prime Minister expressed con- cern over hectic schedules of Yediyurappa. PM Modi has said that Karnataka CM was extensively travelling in Covid-19 times and should refrain from risking his health. “Already infected and recovered from coronavirus, you should avoid meeting people and take rest. I have seen how much you are striving,’’ the PM supposedly told the Lingayat strongman.
The issue of leadership change was not brought up by any of the top three leaders — Modi, Shah or Nadda.
“The media has over speculated and overassessed the situation. There are another three years to go for the cur- rent term and eventually certain changes are unavoidable as Yediyurappa has already turned 77. These changes might happen closer to the election year. Already the BJP has paid the price once in 2013 when Yediyurappa left the party. This time around change can happen only after taking Yediyurappa into confidence. In 1990, then CM of Karnataka Veerendra Patil was changed overnight by then PM Rajeev Gandhi and the Congress party received the wrath of Lingayats, and even today it has not recovered. The party’s think tank knows all these factors and it would be suicidal for them to elbow out Yediyurappa at this juncture,’’ sources said.
However, unconfirmed reports of Yediyurappa not getting positive vibes are making rounds. One source told The Daily Guardian that he has time only till December and has been asked to actively handle the transition himself. “Reports of Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra acting as super CM, meeting stake- holders and also having a say in clearing files has not gone down well with the high command. He was recently made party state vice-president and this is the first step towards the succession plan. Yediyurappa will stand to gain by making way for new leadership and his interests including a suitable position for Vijeyndra will be considered. But if there is resistance from Yediyurappa camp, then the high command will weigh in all options,’’ sources further added.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Nadda at his residence, the Karnataka CM said: “I have proposed cabinet expansion. Nadda has said he will consult the PM and get back in a day. I was hoping the expansion would happen before Monday but now it is up to the party president. I can divulge more details only after I get the message from him’’. He will return to Bengaluru on Saturday and brace for the Assembly sessions slated to begin on Monday which is expected to be stormy given the fact that opposition has scaled up scathing attacks on corruption linked to Covid-19 measures.