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
SDPI CONTESTING THAT PLACES, THEY HAVE ALREADY SDPI STRENGTH, SDPI WILL GOT MLA SEATS.
Sdpi knows where to contest election and not to...This kind of torture is faced by minorities in every elections. Enough is enough we are tired of INC's fake promises. If you don't work for the welfare of the community you don't deserve to be elected.
No more threats on " if no Congress then BJP will come to power "
AWAAM KI JEET SDPI KI JEET
JAI SDPI
What is contribition for Minority past years. can u mention here.
every on know whom to vote.
Who are you "congress miniority cell" to ask this question?
what you contribution for miniroity since last 70 years?
answer is: Sachar Report that u gave us & Babri Masjid that u taken from us ( 2 important role muslims still suffering)
BJP is just for agenda for u,
We will support SDPI wherever we want
Its our choice now dont spoil Muslims name for your personal benefit
*"We are minorities, we cannot have our own representative.. even other parties are right in not fielding a candidate from minorities as the possibility of winning is very weak. So, why to waste a vote. Better to go with so called secular parties as before"*
These words often we hear here & there, every now & then. Such kind of opinion among our friends, family really pushes our morale down. We celebrated like as if we won, when the person we voted won. But everyone of us should ask ourselves *have we really won ?* We voted a party for years & years & *has the position of our community changed ??*
Leave aside the development & welfare promises, most important question is *are we secure in our own land ??*. Some people do ask *Why only SDPI ?* *Why can't we support a Muslim candidate from other parties ?* Yes we can support if he really does fight for welfare of the community. But we all have seen, we voted many times & sent them to speak for us. But our problems fell on their deaf ears & they became dumb when they really had to speak.So we don't have any expectation from them.Its time to know that we need one among us to represent us.So, that *our voice reach assembly & make a noise there*. it should alarm & awaken others who have been sleeping for years .Truth is that even a member can make other 100 tight lipped secular members open their mouth.One question will open door for 100 answers..Until somebody is there to cry & fight for us, we are not going to get anything. Remember the saying *crying baby only gets the milk*.
If one carefully analyse through the last assembly elections Muslim candidate have lost Muslims in Muslim dominated constituency. In many cases winning margin is thin as many independent Muslim candidates cutting through the votes. This may be the strategy of the BJP in coming assembly elections as well. Other factors are small regional parties lise SDPI which directly responsible for Congress to lose in Mysore Lok Sabha elections. MIM has cost nearly two dozen seat in UP is the worrying fact.
Congress is shedding tears now after losing 15 seats in Gujarat with a small margin. Had they spared couple of seats for BSP and NCP they would have easily won 13 seats ...‘As you sow, so shall you reap’.
Wake up INC & start discussing & shares the seats with growing , popular & true secular,agitative & politcal party SDPI or else it will be too late...
One SDPI MLA enter in ASSEMBLY will open mouth of all minority MLA , this time must go one MLA FROM SDPI,
Never ever one and only SDPI
Congress itself is the reason for failure in Gujarat, they didn't join hands or not ready to talk with BSP or NCP. while checking recent statements of ING party, it also going favor to soft Hindutva, instead of this let them join hands with SDPI to fight against saffronization or else they will pay for it as they did in Gujarat.
my opinion SDPI will win 2 to 4 seats with any party support in Karnataka this time, more than 40+ places chances of coming in the second place ... congress should make their strategy now and move on.. best of luck Cong+SDPI.
This is congress strategy till date, minorities especially muslims are well aware of all these tactis. Never they work hard or do anything for minorites rather they just show BJP as a devil and gain votes. Vote for all these secular parties with a clever startegy where they can be made victories. We can see that bjp is out of power and also see that along with congress 4-6 MLA from these parties enter assembly and make the changes.
On one hand Rahul Gandhi is instructing Karnataka Congress govt to stop so called "Minority Appeasement" and on other hand the Minority wing of Karnataka Congress is begging Muslims to stay away from Sdpi and MIM. This shows us Congress is not yet decided its stand on Muslims in coming MLA Election. Whereas SDPI has its stand very clear about contesting the elections with positive Political views. We will support SDPi wherever they contest for election. Whereas we ask Congress to alliance with SDPI in order to save BJP from coming into throne. Sdpi and Congress should be together to defeat BJP. Hence Congress should offer SDPI some of its seat. That will be clever move from Congress.
There is nothing new in KPCC Minority Wing's view, this is what Congress has been telling for almost 7 Decades. Why only SDPI & MIIM, why not JDS and other secular smaller parties, they too cause division of Muslim and secular votes. JDS has got many infulential Muslim figures such as Farook Bhai, Rauf Puttige and many from Coastal belt, then countless Muslim leaders from other parts of Karnataka. Are they not dividing Muslim votes.
I agree with Minority wing - hold discussion not only with SDPI & MIIM but other small progressive parties, thinkers such as Dwaraknathji, Bhaskar and about 15 such people who are decided to contest election this time, Congress should support them, not to field candidates against them. Let some more JIGNESH's come out from Karnataka, let us here different voice of revolutionary thinkers in the Assembly.
An Historical opportunity awaiting for Congress in Karnataka to silence Fascist forces. Dont blame or terrify Muslims, rather work strategically. The ball is in Congress Court!!!
To kick out all communal ; anti INDIA forces from our beloved NATION INDIA. All should unite and vote for the best secular party with ballots. Decline ; reject EVM system then only you can make impossible thinks to possible. Stand togehter and deman for BALLOT voting system then only you will aware who is for the country and who is not. At present there are big deal programs are going on behind screen with communal groups which INDIAN never experienced in the past. Now this is the right time and we the peace loving KARNATAK people to start. For the best government and ruling select qualified young energetic with good back ground. Don't support criminal and communal mind candidate.
We need our GREAT NATION to unite always and shine as number ONE in UNIVERS.
Jai Hind! Jai KArnataka !
They might have good ideologies. But people should recognize as a winning party.
otherwise no use. We dont have objection, if these New parites can win.
We know it will take many years to be strong enough to win in the election New parties
Better be smart, wise support to Congress, atleast much safer than BJP. otherwise you are answerable to your God for not using your brain.
May God bless.
Expression or Minority Wing of All India Congress Committee is quite correct, otherwise same Gujarat situation will prevail in Karnataka too. All Muslims should vote to a single party.
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