Leaders likely to persuade Yeddyurappa not to precipitate crisis; Deputy CM post for his nominee an option
The Bharatiya Janata Party high command is likely to depute senior leader Arun Jaitley and party general secretary in charge of Karnataka Dharmendra Pradhan to Bangalore to defuse the situation in view of the banner of revolt taken up by former Chief Minister and party strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa seeking his reinstatement.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who was here to participate in the 60th anniversary of Parliament, met party president Nitin Gadkari and discussed Mr. Yeddyurappa's demand to convene the legislature party meeting.
To meet Yeddy
Sources said the Central leaders would meet Mr. Yeddyurappa and his followers and persuade him not to precipitate the issue as the party-government would be facing the Assembly poll next year.
It was expected that he would be given assurances on other aspects minus the Chief Minister saddle and this would include Deputy Chief Ministership to his nominee, sources said.
It may be recalled that Mr. Yeddyurappa had questioned Mr. Gowda for not convening the legislature party meeting and insisted that it should be called as early as possible and also wrote a letter to Mr. Gadkari alleging that the Chief Minister was sidelining his (Mr. Yeddyurappa's) loyalists.
Keywords: BJP, Karnataka political crisis, Yeddyurappa, Karnataka crisis, BJP central leadership, Sadananda Gowda
Four decades ago, the Jan Sangh was a party with an ideology, a leader, and vision for the nation. Today, its metamorphosis as the BJP is bereft of all three characteristics, as most acutely exemplified by the crisis in Karnataka. As India and its long suffering people rise from the trauma of foreign invasions and colonialism, they have for leaders today a bunch of "men of straw", ironically proving the words of that arch colonialist Sir Winston Churchill.
The way BJP is handling the mess often created by Yeddurappa is pathetic. Can't they, once, take a principled decision to sack him? Don't BJP realize that it's credibility has taken a severe beating due to Yeddy's antics. As Cho once said, he is downright an embarrassment to BJP. Is holding power the only yardstick for BJP? In all likelihood, Yeddy and his supporters will get wiped out in case of fresh election in the state. BJP - for God's sake, act boldly, and show people like Yeddy the doors! If the main opposition party behaves like this, what's the hope for democracy in India?
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