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.
Speaking to media persons here on Wednesday, he said that the Karnataka state is turning into a safe haven for terrorists and the police must arrest the culprits. He said, he was also threatened and attacked several times.
Comments
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....
We heard this many times
and many people were fooled in the beginning.
and many people still believed again & again.
and a lot of FOOLS still believe it again and again.
Dear FOOLS
Please use your intellect and dont FOOLs yourself from the FOOLs who make such statements to hide their deception.
\Stop Politics of Hate\" The upcoming Campaign of PFI.
Mr.Pratap Simha ( huli, karadi, chirathe, whatever you are)
For your kind knowledge this time Popular Front Expose you Badly..!!
#I am with Popular Front"
Oh My godse.. Jayanna Quarter parth japley.. You are fit to drink that and talk all nonsense. :D Grow up read your books and learn sanskrit and understand what your religion advises.. Ad bittu u sit up get up antha yakappa helthiya.. Swalpa samadana irli guruwe illadrey chaddi galu ninannu hudki barbahudu praveenannu hundkond banda hagey.
Dear Pratap, You won the election because of them. Don't forget the help. Or else A H Vishwanath will won the battle.
Jayaraj.....be cool.....dont spoil your health, by increasing the BP......your help is required to keep Meat bag in Naga Bana ....Pramod Muthalik is badly in need of you .... He will pay 30 laks to start the riots ....
Jayaraj Madekieri well said, he is real lion not human so he should be in zoo or in forest...
Jayarajanna you RSS Criminal Looters speaking about peace in HINDUSTAN!!!!!!!you Buffoons Fantastic citizen of Hindustan.
Great speaking to back up of Chilli branded Master Criminal Pratap no legal right, let him resign his position, 'Every Dogs gets his own Time\ Master Jayarajanna."
@abdul ahad just shut up!!! what is your organisation up to, will demolish in single minute, we always wanted peace in our country. but the man like you always dominating us in every standpoint. what u do if someone coming to your home and bossing u. will
It was during the time of 1998 i remember many innocent Muslims were killed in anti muslim riots across mangalore at that time there were no organisation came forward to resist against the rioters only all believed in police, administration and the so called Secular political party leaders, but no one came for saving the lives of innocent people. Alhumdulillah today because of some muslim group's efforts and continues resistance communal riots reduced drastically.!!!
Jayaraj, where were you when Modi visited Pakistan to make friendship with them and your own Ravishankar said \Pakistan Zindabad\", did anyone tried to put sedition charges against him....you guys as always talk rubbish and garbage...."
Jayaraj, just shut up!
We have seen a lot of unrest and unpleasant condition due to Bajrangies and other sangh pariwar terrorism activities....has government planned to ban these outfits....
Due to Pfi and kfd, communal forces facing setback across india. Long live pfi, kfd.
@sk u shut your mouth, its none of your business. u people always support antinational activities like now its going on ramya's issue. you are the first one to support this all the time.
Ryan DCosta .....what made you to stop naming the every groups to be banned ???????.....
What Happend Prathap ? Is there any election nearby ? I doubt so, coz you open up only when there is election or allegations on your Chaddis. Otherwise people at mysore dont even remember you are an elected MP.
Mr.Pratap
Couple of days back members of one of the famous terrorist organisation i.e Bajarangdal and VHP murdered Praveen poojary in the name of GOW rakhshaks. Where were you that time??? Why didn't you make any press conference and tell government to Ban BD & VHP.
My suggestion is to you that if government of India BAN BD,RSS,VHP,RS then automatically peace will establish.
So PFI on right track. Chances of BJP and chaddi parivaar are minimizing to create communal violence and violation of harmony in State.
So finally this Simha accepted that PFI is the big threat of BJP and Chaddi parivaar.
Why only PFI,KFD Ban all RSS,BD,VHP,Nakali Gou Rakshaka, all should be banned.
The person who belongs to terrorist group is speaking about terror... good joke...
NO PFI or KFD person caught in terror attack but its clear that RSS & BJP workers caught in so many terror attack in India & preparing bomb, explosives.... RSS is taking our India to terror hub & spoiling harmony among people.....
public should unite against such organisation & stop electing person as our representative who spread hatred among communities... Government should arrest all RSS chaddis who are involved in illegal activities & hang them....
yes absolutely well said mr. pratap, not only karnataka the whole country is turning into a safe haven for saffron terrorists like rss, srs, bd, vhp, even student wing too like abvp.
recently we heard so many incidents like babri to dadri, minorities to dalits, human to animal, etc.etc. who done these atrocities pfi, kfd or rss, bd,vhp????
mr. pratap, as a mp did u raised any single voice in the parliament? regarding the above mentioned issue? no you dont why? because it was done by your saffron terrorists. shame on you. people have voted you to talk their problems in the parliament no to bark in the society. better you to resign from mp and serve the society to maintain peace and harmony.
Super Simhaji well said, your are the real lion of our state.
Every group should be banned. not only pfi,kfd. Terrorist are there in every group.
Your sanghi's atrocities have grown uncontrolled. You people are imposing your lifestyle on others.
These groups are formed too defend victims of your atrocities they are doing good job in helping all needy hands.
First of all your dirty mined groups should be eliminated.
then automatically every feed fending group will relax voluntarily
Lol.. Naya bander sheher mey.. Abey beta pehley thu apni bageecha mey dekh aur samja khar kitna ghand hey tujmey.. Pata poster nikhla bander :D
Getting upset after the heinous murders of Praveen poojary, harish, Baliga, Prashant , many school girls.... Has to make some bow,bow... ..for publicity .....Shameless creatures ....
HAHAHAHA....
Ulta chor kotwal ku daante!!!!
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