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
Ahmd
What are u teaching vedas to them. they are not following vedas, because they are worshiping Devils.
Ganapathi's father Shiva, Could not recognize his own son Ganapathi, How will he Recognise u.
master plan of MELVIN.. he need post in BJP.. tiz move is very danger to christian community please dont believe MELWIN and RSS ....
OMG...Christian Hindu Bhai Bhai....Hum Saath Saath Hain..Dear Father's And Sister's Dont forget Church attack incident that took place in Mangalore. These are the same people who beat innocent Nuns, Womens and Children. MIND IT.
why don't Chaddis go to churches and masjid..???? why don't they show unity..????. Chaddis wants other religion people to live like their slaves. (vinashakala vipareetha buddi)
This is not communal harmony ....this is an act of cowardness .....
Communal Harmony does not mean worshiping another God or another god of any other religion ...Harmony means give and take respect and love each other. and do respect all religion ....
DOnt misuse Communal Harmony
Guys in movies u have watched khans dancing , praising In front of Hindu Gods....but It doesnt Mean They worship or Believe...its a Part of Movie To entertain.....this Is Also same Its Part to Maintain harmony....plz take Things In different Angles....
Prem ...Jesus never Denied When His Follower Called him God.
VIREN #6
Muslims are NOT ABUSING but telling the TRUTH.
Vedas says NA TASYA PRATImA ASTI which means there is no image of God... it also says God is one ...
Muslims are telling that what VEDAS says is right and we ask U guys to PONDER on Y VEDAS says the following
*NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI (S upanishad 4:19)
*They enter Darkness those who worship natural things, They sink deeper in DARKNESS those who worship Sambhuti (Created things) - Yajurveda 40.09
*God is one without a secong (Chondogya 6:02 1)
*Of that God there is no image primita (YV 32:3)
* All those whose intelligence has been STOLEN by material desires, they worship many Gods - Bhagwat Gita 7:20
READ to understand ...
Remove your hatred and use your intellect to know the reality of IDOL Worship.
You pray Ganapati and throw him in the sea at the end of the day....pity on you guys....I have seen people take drinks and dance behind it...no God fearing...no honesty....no devotion at all...looking for creating problems around....very bad....
They could have gone and prayed some other temples but not in RSS HQ....shame on them....they are scared of.....Muslims would not do this type of shirks....
Dear Vimala... #7
It is better to obey God (Who says worship him alone) rather than disobeying cheddis who want people to bow down to idols.
U will never recognise the devils trap in worshiping many man made created objects UNLESS U READ the manual from God...
QURAN challenges human being to create a book like that or a verse similar to it.
If U not read, then please read it and use your intellect to know what God says about the CREATION and life of this World... Please
Recognise YOUR CREATOR and worship him alone... it will be better for our life and hereafter.
Here some Zakir Naik Bhakts are trying to preach their religion. I request the moderator to remove the unnecessary out of the topic comments.
You have done a good job by posting a news report that spread the message of unity. But, some readers trying to create communal disturbance.
God Created man with intellectual power which we need to use it.
Stones are created lifeless by God
When we dont use our intelligence, We bow down to lifeless objects instead of God himself.
Its a great injustice done by human being to God..
God created U and U worship the STONES.
People should know who is their CREATOR rather than bowing down to lifeless object which cannot benefit nor harm the intelligent mankind... which blessed with life itself.
if U R TRUTHFUL in searching God ... He will guide u, if u are HONEST.
Dont fall trap to LIARS and AGGRESSORS of our Society.. God's help comes when we stand with the TRUTH....
Ok Ok.. I fully agree that these are peace loving people. By the way where were they when true Indians were fighting for the freedom of the nation? Both of them were with ......?
This is the spirit of truth. It attracts people of all faiths. Hats off the Christian nuns and fathers for their open minded gesture. Muslims should learn from Christians how to live in a multi cultural society.
As rightly pointed out by V Nagraj ji, these nuns and priests have proved their honesty. Can the peace loving Hindu community expect same gesture from one umma gang? Or they will continue to abuse all Hindu gods as per the teaching of their scripture ?
I think they did not woship Ganapati. They just offered a saree and took prasadam. Actual worship takes place in the heart and it cannot be seen by anyone. This is just a harmony visit.
If God cannot recognise his own son... Then how will he recognise his creation ....
If God cannot replace his son's head , Then how can we depend on him for our blessings.
Something is wrong.. either cheddis are against NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI or those who worship idols are ignorant about God...
Please search for TRUTH.. God guides those who are HONEST from their heart..
No need to Fear cheddis and sell your souls to cheddis..
Worship the Creator and not his creation...
Jesus never said worship me but the father.... (God).
Na Tasya Pratima Asti - There is no image of God.. (What U worship in the form of idol cannot be god as per Vedas)
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