
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.
Comments
How do u all know them ?
Haleema you sold heaven and you purchased hell...
Islam teaches us 'A slave Muslim men is better for a Muslim girl than a rich kaafir . Same way a slave Muslim women is better for a Muslim men than a rich kaafira women'
There is no compulsion in religion of islam. We are free to follow any system but final decision with Allah, He will decide who followed his way or who are the loser. May Allah guide us to right path. Ameen
SEE HER FACE, CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION,VIREN YOU ARE RIGHT BUT A SENTENCE IS WRONG SHE WENT FROM BRIGHTNESS TO DARKNESS.
I agree with Fathima's view. It was unfortunate that the girl in the name of love forgot the beauty of Islam.
There are many instances in Mangalore where Muslim girl married a Hindu boy and after a year boy converted to Islam. No wonder if this culminates the same way. Moreover u will find hundreds of famous personalities embracing Islam such as Tony Blair's sister Lauren booth, BBC journalist Yvonne Ridley and so on but u will not find vise versa. Keep hope and prayers and ignore barking kotians.
Let us pray for kotiyan brightness family !!....May Allah protect your family & children in future .... There is chance to convert !
Every Say Ameeen!
Kotiyan Nikk P---Tiye Yaa\\"\"\"\"\"n"
mr kotian do u know how many hindu married muslims converted to islam and workind in uae you study well about islam and later on u will also change
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men who married to muslim converted to islam and working here in dubai, first study about islam and later on u wil change your mind
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men married muslim converted to muslim again and working here in dubai study first about islam then you will also come to islam There is no caste system in islam like brahman harijan etc
No need to judge anybody. Only Allah knows whats the future and how their end will be. It may be good and wonderful than we expect. Better than our life may be, nobody knows. So keep hope . If possible pray for them and dont judge.
Viren @ its opposite its to dark from brightness and secondly its her parent to blame , they didnt teach her what is islam .
Viren chadi by name only we cant judge chadi,its should come through Heart.
Just wait for 3 to 4 month, he will leave her .
i like it ... i like it ... Jai sri ram ... as Viren bhai said ,.. inshallah it will happen soon .. too much of compression and male domination in islam... they treat women as property not as human being ... i heard that shivraj rejected haleema's fathers offer of crore rupees inexchange of his daughtor ... it means guy has not married this gal for money sake .. true love ... they must be protected as they might get attacked from Islamic thugs from coastal ...hahaha... this is just the begining ... there are lakhs of muslim women who want to escape from this sikka patte piece ful religion ...
We as an Indian should be united but look what always we see partitioned. no wonder how easily British invaded India.
I know some of them are happy seeing this news. And i admit it is because of your ignorance you are happy. Almighty has his own concept of human life n death. There are 4 categorised people.
1. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a muslim
2. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a non muslim.
3.Ones born as anon muslim and dies as a non muslim.
4.Ones born as a non muslim and dies as a muslim.
Last category people are the most successful people in this world and hereafter no doubt about it. 2nd category people are the ones destroying their own destiny and lands in great trouble hereafter. No one neither their life-partner nor their parents can save them from torments of hell fire.
May Allah make our death beautiful and grant us to die as a muslim.
May Allah guide her n all of us.
@ viren kotian
quran, islam never force anyone to covert to islam.. in quran Allah says tell the truth to them until they understand the truth
even after that they don't want to accept the islam its up to them.. its our responsibi
Thank you CD for this wonderful news.
And Yes, Viren we all are there with this brave woman. no terrorist can touch her.
Insha Allah more muslim girls will throw away their burkas and accept hinduism in future..
Mr viren ur wrong,,,,, from the brightness to darkness,,,,
Welcome to the light from the darkness Ms haleema. We are with you! hahahah Lol Lol Lol..
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