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
FACEBOOK is controlled by USA. Its not the difficult task for them to add likes or comments on anyone's account.
Attack on Zakir is pre planned. Because zakir naik's popularity is growing on all over the world. His speech encourages for non-muslims to study their scriptures, so many Christians converted to Islam in Europe and USA by getting the satisfactory answer by zakir.
Growing popularity of zakir in India or all over the world has become the nightmare for losers. So they have no option left than using their weapon as terrorism to attack on innocents.
BJP/Jumla based government failed against zakir. Now they are creating issues against zakir naik.
BJP tried all their dummy scholars to defeat zakir naik in debate. When they faced failure continuously, now they have started their big weapon impotency and lies. Its in their blood.
Jumla government is scared because growing popularity of ZAKIR will take their vote bank. his every speech converts many non-muslims to muslims.
They come to know that its difficult to defeat zakir on the base of debate, so they are using terrorism as weapon against him. Godse used muslims dressing code to attack on bapuji, RSS used arnab as their weapon.
People like arnab will sell their mother and wife for few pennies. For million rupees its not the big deal for him to attack on zakir.
This clearly shows govt. is doing injustice to Zakir Naik so far Govt. Central and State did not find anything against him since last 2 months they are doing investigation still they are putting him under prior approval list. This clearly shows govt. is misusing power against ZN. All media also not fair coverage all are covering false report particularly Times Now,
I am following him past 20 years and he is not indulging terror and he is the man of peace and for that I appreciate and I support him. He respect other religion and he tells the people what is correct in their holy books this is for Muslims, Hindus and Christians too.
I ask the reader who comments on him negatively please go to his website and listen his speeches you judge your self and do not comment on the basis of media and govt. version.
Best of luck Zakir Naik we will support you.
Can any here prove any wrong doings of Zakir Naik?. Arnab gosami is not bench mark.ZN has done a lot to promote peace and truth in religious matters. Chaddi groups which cannot survive if peace between communities start developing are afraid of ZN and plotting all means to deter him. But GOD is great... truth will win
Add new comment