Bengaluru, Aug 2: Within a year of returning to power for the fourth time as Chief Minister in Karnataka, septuagenarian B.S. Yediyurappa has consolidated his position in the ruling BJP to stay the course till the next Assembly elections in mid-2023.
"A combination of factors helped Yediyurappa to consolidate and stay the course for the remaining term of his office to ensure the saffron party retains power in the state though he is unlikely to stake claim for the chief minister's post again as he would be 80 years old by 2023," a party source told news agency here.
Since the 77-year-old seasoned politician assumed office on July 26, 2019, the first year has been tumultuous for him, as he had go through a "trial by fire" what with the party's mighty high command and detractors testing his patience in the face of natural calamities like drought, floods and the Covid pandemic.
The first 7-8 months of the term were spent in tackling drought and floods, winning 12 of the 15 by-elections in December to secure a majority for the ruling party in the lower house and expanding the cabinet in February.
Even as Yediyurappa was settling down to seriously govern after presenting the state budget for fiscal 2020-21 in early March, the coronavirus outbreak overwhelmed him, as the pandemic spread and wreaked havoc, disrupting life, livelihood, economic growth and development.
"While the emphatic victory in the by-elections ensured the government's stability till the assembly term up to mid-2023, the second cabinet expansion on February 6 posed a challenge to Yediyurappa, as he could induct only 10 of the 12 MLAs who defected from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and won the by-elections, triggering a revolt in the party by the loyalists left out of the ministry," the source recalled.
Though Yeddiyurappa has been leading the battle against the virus from day 1 and initially succeeded in controlling it from spreading during the extended lockdown till May 31, reopening the state under Unlock since June has undone the gains, as positive cases shot up to 1,29,287 so far, including 73,219 in Bengaluru after 53,648 recovered from across the state till date, while 2,412 succumbed to the deadly disease since March 9.
"For a state of 7 crore population, the data reveals that the pandemic has been fought on war-footing to contain it from spreading in all the 30 districts, although there are no signs of it going away till a vaccine is found. The chief minister has been trying to balance unlocking the state and containing the infection," a member of the health task force told IANS.
With six cabinet posts in the 34-member ministry being vacant, filling them will be a daunting task for Yediyurappa, as at least 20 legislators, including 5-6 newly elected turncoats and party's veterans are lobbying to become ministers at any cost.
By appointing 20 party legislators as heads of state-run board and corporations, nominating 5 as members of the state legislative council, including JD-S defector A.H. Vishwanath in July and getting 2 Congress defectors R. Shankar and M.T.B. Nagaraj elected as MLCs in June with 2 others, Yediyurappa ensured that these lawmakers would not be in the reckoning for the 6 cabinet posts, as dozen MLAs are already pitching for them.
Nagaraj and Vishwanath lost in the December 5 by-elections, while Shankar was not given a ticket to contest in the by-poll but was assured of making him an MLC with another disgruntled member C.P. Yogeshwar, who lost in the 2018 May assembly polls to JD-S leader and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of the 14-month-old JD-S and Congress coalition government from May 23, 2018 to July 23, 2019.
Resignations of 17 rebels, including 14 from the Congress and 3 from the JD-S led to the fall of the coalition government, as Kumaraswamy lost the majority in the 225-member assembly on July 23, 2019 in their absence.
Though Yediyurappa led the party to win 105 seats in the 2018 assembly elections and formed a government on May 17, 2018, he resigned 3 days later on May 19, 2018, as he fell 8-9 seats short of the halfway mark (113) for a simple majority in the lower house.
In a post-poll alliance, the JD-S and the Congress formed the coalition government to keep the BJP out of power in May 2018, after the assembly elections gave split verdict and the Congress lost power then.
"The record victory of the ruling party in the May 2019 general elections, when 25 of its 27 contestants won out of 28 Lok Sabha seats from the state, reinforced the popular belief that Yediyurappa is the party's mascot in winning elections and an unquestionable leader of the politically dominant Lingayats in the state," the source pointed out.
When Yediyurappa left the BJP and floated a regional outfit (Karnataka Janata Party) in January 2013, he delivered a body blow to the BJP in the May 2013 state assembly polls, as the votes got split and was defeated by then Congress.
"Besides the party's high command, everyone in the party's state unit, including leaders and cadres are aware of Yediyurappa's popularity across the state, as has the wherewithal to connect with masses and win elections," the source added.
However, the city police had been keeping an eye on him for past several months, according to Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik.
Comments
Naren is born in India his father is jews who was visited once upon a time Padubidri. He met a lady there and they had a sex. After nine month she deliver a baby devil his name Naren Kotian. After his birth she traveled with jews to Thailand there she met one muslim guy from pakistan and they loved each other. They droped naren in Thailand untill now he is begging in Thailands streets. And also he is hating Muslims.
If he is a BANGHA PARIVAR person like Toghadia, Bhat then it is fake news and no problem.
Police is maintaining double standard by not arresting bhat, muthalik, sharan kind of people...they still loitering giving hate speeches around...these crooks are the real terrorists....
this moulana could have said something...but he could not succeed in his mission....but others (bajrangy leaders) did succeed.....
Look at him ,traitor .. ... shoot to kill is the only solution for back stabbing the nation which gave him shelter and food ... mostly many are not reading what is written , simply chummah sorry ummah gang member antha kirchadtha idave ... report clearly says he was abusing other religions and he was mentioning other countries ( USA and our beloved israel ) , so this comes under act of terrorism ... . we must adopt a policy of deporting these types of rogue elements along with families to kaaliplate ( hahaha caliphate ruled by his elder brother rapist baghdadi ) by giving one way ticket ... well done police .. keep it up... hahahaha
#7 Sathish Kulal , Mangalore
You are right ..............Indresh who gave ISI our secrets ....Muthalik who hoisted PAK flag in Sindhagi .......... Prajna singh who blasted and killed ................Aseemanand who conspired against an INDIAN..............Vajapeyi who ate beef outside INDIA...........Yashpal suvarna who betrayed fishermen and expelled.........Maya kodnani who killed indian citizenz.....babu bajarangi who killed a preganant Indian women after raping .................
is it enough
This is the technique of Politicians they want to divert public concentration one to other thing they keep him at jail for some time after some year they wont able to find sufficient evidence then release him this is what happening we muslims have lots of similar cases.
Wht the hell .....keep a watch n arrest who are innocent but let free those openly bark haterate. ...this is our government and this is called tolerance
if no evidence why arrested him ? sick police
i heard his speech. hatred about hindu community.
i request to delhi police please release him immediately.
why this police are targeting only muslims, totally injustice to our community in this country,
desh drohi must be put inside the jail.
they are just investigating the matter. its their rights to investigate each and everyone with whom they get doubt.
Indian People Please understand the situation, dont support this kind of people they only speech to divert the mind into communal violence.
this police are only targeting innocent people all the time, i request the government to release him in the respective manner.
hang him to death, desh drohi
Delhi police is known for its atrocities against innocents. Even chief minister Arvind Kerjriwal is not safe from Delhi police, which follows the order of Modi govt.
Only in CD this kind of rubbish news reports we can find. All other news portals have come up with clear details and evidences against this cleric. but CD reporters playing games endangering national security.
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