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
They didn't ask you to wear shorts or bikinis
They just said no bhurka
Once you join the college,you are meant yo follow rules.
If you are not ok with it join another college which respects your tradition
They didn't ask them to wear shorts or bikini,they just said no bhurka
Rules of college to be followed once you join it,if you are not ok with it join another college which respects your tradition
Some fools here don't know the constitutional rights of students and commenting asking to go to Muslim colleges. Then let the college announce that they cannot follow our indian constitution.....
I dint see all these people commenting where their cow gods are in trouble....specially kotiaan ....we will take care of our problems....you first settle your GO Gods problem first....ha ha ..arrange to clean the city from plastics and feed them with grass......good luck....
Neren when did you travel from Thailand to Singapur. Might be the Govt of Thailand refused to give shelter like Indian govt did to you Poor Naren. Next he will be HELL.
Me Naren Hindu Lady sanyasi also wearing towel on her head gujrathi and Rajasthan Hindu women without head covered not coming in front of elderly person Christian nuns also wearing hijab that means hijab his good for ladies. If purchased fish you are not taking naked fish without covering then how you allowd your mother or sister allied without covering head
Kotian. A simple example. Just read and understand
For kachra what u do. U will burn of course.
For treasure what u do. U will hide in the ground of course.
After dead some people burn them. As some people hid in the ground
Simple message is that it is because of the huge donations given by the muslims the school and colleges are being filled and if we muslims decide to send our children only to muslim institutions then the closure of many of the non-muslim institutions will be near.
Dear Danish,
Your comments shows how much knowledge you have about islamic countries. Just visit dubai and see how non muslims are practising their faith. Don't blame with half knowledge like our Feku.
NARENANNA .....We no longer require messenger like you ....we already have ADVANI anna .....who followewd Sharia by saying ....death penalty for Rapist
NAREN JOKES
What a boring and miserable person you are naren. We are fed up reading your comments and now we are taking it as narens jokes. Keep going you will be famous as sardar jokes one day .. Hahaha.
There is a pretty common story that a NON MUSLIM asked a MUSLIM man why Muslim women covers themselves in HIJAB.
He took a piece of CANDY , took it out of the wrapper and threw it on the Ground. Candy got dirty, ants came & swarmed it, etc...
He took another piece of CANDY that was wrapped and threw it on the Ground as well.
Then he asked the NON MUSLIM man if he wanted the wrapped candy or the unwrapped candy? He of course said the Wrapped ONE.
The unwrapped was to symbolize uncovered women... How they are walking through this filthy world.
The Covered women was symbolized by the Wrapped Candy which protected from the dirty things on earth.
Its your choice... to follow the divine msg or not.. Nobody is forced by GOD.
If the Virgin Mary appears wearing a Veil on all her pictures, How can you ask me to sign on a Hijab ban law?
Roberto Maroni (Italian Foreign & Labour Minister)
muslim education institutes are not on par with education , so they join hindu and christian owned ... so no place for sharia .. kick those out of college ... no mercy must be shown on jihadist encouraging activities ... we have seen deep penetration of islamic state element in the coastal . .. one banner showing they will teach lesson in their own terms ... fire pellet guns on them ...beter join madrasa guys ... go please hahaha...
A BJP MP rejected USA visa because they told him to remove turban for security check. He rejected the American visa instead.
Anybody to blame him? No, this is our culture.
If a girl wear half naked skits or tight jeans pant and breast showing clothes, then these so called educationists are happy.
Hijab is the right of a muslim girl. Turban is the right of Sikh students, in a secular country they have the right to observe their religious dress code.
better to boycott such kind of institutions and go for islamic colleges.
Finally chairman by self unveiled his mask. Hope if he continue his dirty mentality then his institution may lose his respect and not fit to educate our future generation.
It will be unfortunate to Great Nation
its not Group of Muslim Students.............it is CAMPUS FRONT OF INDIA
Beedi workers ( look at pic in which women has come along with her daughter ) ...2 faces I can make out they are from bunder involved in cattle thefts before ..correct taane faizahal Bhai ? Idara bagge nimge idea iratte ..haha ..salafists are getting lot of funds from wahabist countries ..so they are organising this .. Give them tc so that they can join their community owned collegese...comedy thing is minority particularly one community owned colleges and schools are not of good standards ...haha ...quality of teaching staff is not up to the level ...so they join colleges owned by Hindus and Christians .madrasa untalla babes ..go and join na ? Hahaha...
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