Bowing to the pressures of the former Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to replace Sadananda Gowda by Minister for Rural Development Jagadish Shettar as Chief Minister.
The BJP’s Core Committee, which met here on Saturday, considered the situation and took the decision. Mr. Yeddyurappa, an influential Lingayat leader, has been mounting pressure for a change of guard in the State.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who quit as Chief Minister in July last year after the Lokayukta indicted him on charges of illegal mining, initially insisted on his re-instatement. But, after the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the allegations, he chose to back his erstwhile political rival-turned friend for the post.
There were differences within the BJP's central leadership over giving in to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s demand. Senior leaders like L.K. Advani opposed the idea on the ground that it would set a wrong precedent. They were of the view that it would be better for the party to face a fresh poll than effect a leadership change as the elections are due in less than nine months.
However, the majority opinion was to allow Mr. Yeddyurappa to have his way, given his influence in the Lingayat community.
Within hours of the Core Committee meeting, Mr. Gowda arrived here and met party president Nitin Gadkari. Having reconciled himself to the prospects of ouster, Mr. Gowda told reporters in Bangalore: “I am going to Delhi, and the party leaders will decide. I am ready to quit if my party high command tells me [to do so].”
On his arrival here, Mr. Gowda said a decision should not be delayed as 123 taluks “are under severe drought, and people should not feel that political disturbance in the State is affecting the functioning of the government.”
Keywords: BJP, Karnataka political crisis, Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar, L.K. Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Yeddyurappa, BJP core meeting
BJP has only two options,either to strictly adhere to principles and
ethics and ignore Yeddy or loose power since the split in party is
imminent.Prudence therefore demands replacing Gowda in the interests of
the party,it is the right decision
Its not gowda or shettar, its Mr.Nitin Gadkari who seems to be foolish. how he became party president for second term as he has not achived anything. BJP going to be dump under his leadership.
Hopes that BJP would be a better alternative for Congress is dashed totally. The only saving grace is that Yeddurappa is not back in CM's seat, though his nominee takes over. In the next general election, BJP can't expect to replace Congress - only a third alternative should be tried.
Sadananda Gowda gained popularity in short time, rather as soon as he became CM, His continue would have ensured good for Karnataka as well as BJP party.
Political thuggery has won the day. BJP high-command bending over to satisfy a discredited leader in the state. The Senior leaders in the party are sending out the message 'Corruption is okay. At any cost hold onto power'. Indian electorate has under stood thta thre is no difference between Congress and BJP except in the name. Neither of them have any principles, scruples or politcal decorum. This was not expected of leaders like Advani and Jaitley. They should have called the bluff of Yeddurappa and alloeed the state to go for a by-poll. That would have immensely increased the popularaty of the party. One can sacrifice an indiviudal to save a family, a family to save a village and a vilage to save a town, a town to save a state and a state to save a country. BJP you have lost millions of votes by acting spineless in the Yeddurappa matter.
No doubt Yaddis proximity with Shoba ( belonging to Gowda Community) who is MLA from yashwanthapuram constituency , and his sponsoring of Sadanand Gowda as a chief Minister when he himself was forced to demit the CM' post amply justifies the claim that Yaddigi is secular enough, but in present circumstances Lingayat's dominance, especially in North Karnataka, speaks differently. Yet Yaddi's intention in not sponsoring Jagadish Shettar at first instance itself has given rise to lot speculations.
Yaddi's demand for replacing Sadananda Gowda was there for long time and the attempts failed every time. But this time Yaddi's demand was successful because Eswarappa backed it. The later was put out with Gowda because he(Gouda) expressed his inability to make enough money unoffially to spend for ensuing elections. Eswappa's one hour surprise meeting with Yadddi which triggered a lot of speculations and big political fall out,decided the necessity for CM's change.
By succumbing to the blackmail of and capitulating to Yeddyurappa and his cohorts,the BJP which was overly moralistic has now cheapened itself.Any defence the central leadership may offer would
not only sound lame but be despicable and contemptible.And this was the party which with its closeness to the RSS was preaching about probity etc.As far as the BJP is concerned these are mere words in the dictionary.The BJP's credo has changed overnight as has the leaders who are now leaning towards everything crooked.
One is really surprised to know that how a National party like BJP can go down to such a low level in selecting the CM in Karnataka, and supporting Sangma, irrespective of whether he is people's choice or the choice of party to which he has worked all these years.It is thrusting on the people forcibly to accept any Tom and Jerry as their CM or Presidential candidate,which proves that it is not a party for democracy but for dictatorship. There is not a single national leader in this party whom the people respect as a National leader but with the turning of a day a new self styled leader raises and vanquishes soon. What a shame it is and such a party is the opposition party in the Parliament. Now they have lost all the right to represent the Parliament with their cheap politics.
It is unfortunate that BJP has become an unwitting victim of internecine factionalism in Karnataka. The state leaders have frittered away an opportunity to prove that it can be a viable alternative to JD(U) and Congress. The central leadership is equally responsible for allowing the factionalism to simmer and come to a boiling point. Nevertheless, the moot question is whether the dissidents will stop at this this, having tasted blood.
Sad day in Karanataka's politics. This is real bad leadership at BJP's
high command.
Rampant corruption and caste/religion based politics are ruining the country.
Instead you should say, " If you want me to quit, I will quit altogether
from the BJP, because BJP leaders are succumbing to yeddi's pressure
tactics." Yeddi is tainted, whereas, Gowda is not so far, so why should
Gowda quit. Just a shame on BJP...
We are painfully reminded of the idiom Nero playing the fiddle while
Rome burned. Karnataka is facing an unprecedented drought due to
failure of monsoon rains and instead of planning to mitigate the
catastrophic effects of it, here we witness the revolting sight of
the party indulging in self centered political maneuvers of worst
kind. By totally divorcing itself from common man's critical problems
BJP is risking annihilation in the state and huge loss of face
nationally.
BJP should have expelled Yeddy in the first place. To better avoid this
crap now. The problem that BJP is facing now, how come people vote them
in 2014, when they behave in a silly way like this? If they don't have
the strength to control a single greedy yeddy in a right manner, how
come they control the entire nation? This is something fishy. Unless
Modi image, nothing would be going well for BJP now.
Although many internet people are writing critical comments the
decision of BJP high command is a right one.Sadananda never enjoyed
trust of the legislators of BJP and he was apolitical lightweight in
no position to win a second term for BJP.Moreover 805 BJP MLAS wanted
change in leadership.In democracy its the majority opinion that
matters.Moreover in India unfortunately caste politics are very
critical and BJP won with lingayat support.For them to turn their
backs on lingayats will have proved disastrous as vokkalingas are
staunchly anti BJP.Anyway congrats to new CM Jgadish Shettar
Please Email the Editor