Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday said he was “doubtful” whether Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would be able to complete his full term going by the “infighting” in the party vis-À-vis Reddy brothers. He claimed that the CM had been “weakened’ in the aftermath of the imbroglio.
Quoting media reports, he said Mr. Yeddyurappa, who chaired the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday since the truce called between him and Reddy brothers – Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy and Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy – had announced cancellation of his tour of the flood-affected districts from Thursday for the reasons best known to himself (CM).
The Reddy brothers, who helped in “operation lotus” (for the survival of the BJP government last year) and the subsequent Lok Sabha election were now trying to corner and keep Mr. Yeddyurappa under check.
Though he did not want to comment on the internal affairs of the BJP it was a fact that the people, who were supposed to get the aid and assistance of the government following severe floods, had not been taken care of properly and they were left in lurch.
He blamed the UPA government too as being “responsible” for failing to keep the mining lobby led by Reddy brothers who were causing trouble to both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments. Former AP Chief Minister late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy too was responsible for their growth as his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy had business relationship with them. In Karnataka the Reddy brothers had an influential business relationship with industrialist Ashok Kenny, he alleged.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gowda has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take steps to capture and relocate a herd of 25 elephants causing problems to the villagers of Alur, Arkalgud and Sakleshpur taluks of his Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.
