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.
Addressing a press meet in Sirsi on Sunday Mr Hegde had stated that the religion of Islam should be wiped out and claimed that terrorism could not be uprooted as long as Islam existed in this world.
Comments
Welcome back Mohammed Mangalore.
Every person have their own choice of selecting the method of protest. I have selected writing on forums as I cannot do what you wanted, as I am aged enough. You being a hench man of Masood, may remember recently Poojary indirectly taunted Masood, for being MLC at his helm, failures for congress party recent Zilla and Taluk Panchayats. I bet you Masood cannot get 100 votes if he contest for next MLA election. And even MLC.
Finally I don't need teachings from you as you are immaterial to me.
Dear UTK saab, Kindly Kindly Kindly dont urge... or wait for POLICE to file SUO MOTO....
Kindly ORDER for the ACTION on him thru your government and appeal HEGDE's arrest notice to Loksabha speaker.. then we can believe you.
many urges from you people show up to DK public llike PRABHAKAR BHAT ARREST bu noting happened till the moment...
Ibrahim Hussain Udupi, It is just for you to request muslims to keep quiet as you being in Udupi are scared of the repurcation you will go through if you stand up against these people. Come on gather some guts and come out openly to condemn this speech. It is easy for you give lectures. Be a strong muslim or are you the one who knows only to back stab and talk nonsense about your own community people.
CONGRESS HAVE NO GUTS TO TAKE ACTION, SEE YOU ALL, ITS 100% SURE.. CONGRESS IS DEPENDENT 90% MUSLIMS VOTES, BUT THEY DONT WANT MUSLIMS DEVELOPMENT AND HAPPINESS, THEY ARE USING ONLY VOTE BANK.
as per great tradition of modi govt he should be soon rewarded with some ministry..ache Din.. here it is !
Mister M-ad P-erson, wouldnt have even tried reading his holy book Bhagwat Geetha,else he wouldnt have spoken false/ill about other religions. I dont want to mention anything more, its a waste of my time.
This is Kaat Bunta.
He is not representing all Hindus, nor this is the message of any Hindu.
The more they provocate, the more ISLAM grows.
The big protest and reaction started in US afer 9/11, what happened.
Happened is more Americans specially women embraced ISLAM.
The same will happen in India. Just Watch, you can not fool educated people.
BROTHER RAHUL,
HOW YOU WILL FEEL IF I SAY THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN WORLD IF WE DID NOT ERADICATE THE RELIGION WHICH YOU BELONGS TO... DO YOU STILL SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN IT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE FROM YOUR RELIGION INVOLVED IN MURDER RAPE AND TERROR ATTACKS
I guess he forgot he is talking about world's second largest religion! Might he needs some knowledge about Islam. Let him mock on the religion, his creator will give him a knock out too..
Why all the from same....... makes this type of comments?
BJP/RSS have some active pracharaks throughout India give hate speeches against Islam and Muslims. Even Narendra Modi himself RSS pracharak, made some comments on muslim regarding reservations during the Bihar Election rally. Yesterday in Agra, Mr. Kataria, BJP MP made similar provocations SPEECH in UP. This is a normal practice of RSS/BJP camp. When it comes protests, both slip away from their utterances and say that is their personal views and nothing to do with party and RSS.
Ananth Kumar is non performing MP of UKannada district, there is an unhappiness from the voters even BJP sympathizers and his utterances against Islam and Muslims nothing but a show. However, Muslims should not provoked from his statements and maintain peace and harmony. We will have to see the action from the State Government, specifically home minister Dr. Parameshwar and CM Sidda Ramayya.
YES MR.RAHUL,
U R RIGHT, SEE THE MALEGAO,OTHER BLASTS LIKE MECCA MASJID, ALL MUSLIMS ARE ARRESTED.. but.. I MEAN SADHVI SINGH, PUROHIT....SHAME ON YOU...
Good to see that minister is taking action against this ignorant...
defaming other relegious s totally wrong, he must be punished,
Let's wait & see what action will our Congress govt. takes, i'm sure it won't take..., unless we change our system by adding/ bringing AAP or SDPI to political track (bcoz people are tired of watching old two parties blame-games)
It is time for Congress Government to take action. If you want to keep your vote bank alive, then the Government must take action against this Naalayak, Hatred Communal MP.
just for publicity, media simply giving publicity to them, this kind of statement should be ignored.
its totally unfair to tell to wipe out islam from the world first he have to wipe out his mind and heart.
Now Modi will provide Z+ Security to this Poor Guy Who is Struggling for FAME.Like Subramanya Swami.
He has challenged his own CREATOR.After all he is a CREATURE.
Will suffer badly life after DEATH (In sha allah)
Only Complaint, nothing to do this congress government. Now Congress is power in state, but they are not intrested to take action.. only giving statement for his vote bank politics. They have no guts.
Add new comment