The selection of a successor to Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is turning out to be a problem for the Bharatiya Janata Party high command.
The Chief Minister, who agreed to resign following the party central leadership's directions in the wake of the indictment by the Karnataka Lokayukta on illegal mining, is now making a bid for a review of the decision. On Thursday, he sought time till Sunday to resign.
On a day marked by high political drama, the BJP's central observers Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley arrived here on Friday to elicit the opinion of the party legislators and organise a meeting of the legislature party to elect the new leader. The time fixed for the legislature party meeting was repeatedly postponed and eventually it was put off indefinitely.
While one section of the legislators, who included chief ministerial aspirants, called on the central observers, a significant section remained with the Chief Minister at his official residence, demanding that he continue in the post, failing which the BJP should opt for elections.
Authoritative sources in the ruling party told The Hindu that Mr. Yeddyurappa, who has played a key role in building the BJP in the State, had some demands and that he would not relent until these were conceded. As it transpires, the demands relate to Mr. Yeddyurappa's nominee being appointed Chief Minister and he himself being appointed State BJP president. It was also pointed out that Mr. Yeddyurappa had no plan to precipitate matters or float a new party as was being mentioned in certain quarters.
After hearing him out, the central observers decided to consult party president Nitin Gadkari before deciding on the next course of action.
Meanwhile, the oldest of the Reddy brothers, Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, called on Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to explain to him that “baseless charges” were made against the mining firms of the Bellary Ministers (including B.Sriramulu, who is Health Minister) in the Lokayukta report.
Mr. Karunakara Reddy told TheHindu that the legislators supporting the Bellary Ministers would abide by the high command's decision although they had high respect for Mr. Yeddyurappa. Sources in the Raj Bhavan said the Governor would send a report to the President and the Centre on the developments in the State. He is also perusing the Lokayukta report.
People were feeling that erstwhile CM Mr Kumara swamy was glued to his chair when transfer of power didnot take place earlier as promised in the arrangement at the time of formation of the then Government. But now Mr.Yediyurappa, though under different circumstances,is also glued to the chair and is reluctant to vaccate. Power makes one corrupt and absolute power absolutely. In the process he has lost all the sympathy of the common man and BJP too has tarnished its image, by not being able to have hold on Shri, Yediyurappa. Really a sad state of affairs. I am sure alot of horse trading within the party must be taking place. As most of the so called supporters of Yediyurappa are involved in one or other scams.
Having found guilty of corruption, Yeddyurappa should have already resigned his membership in the House. He has no moral right to represent the people after misusing their money for his personal gains. He should vacate the House along with his position as Chief Minister of the State. Every leader indicted in comparable issues by Lokayuktha and similar agencies should do so without any hesitation. But, in Karnataka, how the BJP leadership toils to get rid of its guilty CM is a shame on our democracy. It is the absence of specified Constitutional and procedural regulations to deal with such eventualities that creates uncertainties. In parliamentary democracies as in our country, it should be the responsibility of political parties to ensure great traditions in public life. They should jointly work out modalities. We have more than enough of number of parties but, unfortunately, most of them de facto are powered by the corrupt and the criminalised. The people in Karnataka, looking at Delhi and Bangaluru, feel like between the proverbial devil and the deep sea.
This is an open secret that regional leaders and Chief Ministers also arrange legally or illegally funds for their parties and in the bargain know the weaknesses and failings of their political big wigs. They, therefore, expect some sort of quid-pro-quo from their national party leadership in the form of tolerance for their shenanigans and jiggery pokery for lining their own pockets also. But at the same time party has to make them fall in line or even show them the door when they become too big for their boots or a liability. But at the same time satraps, who have contributed to their party’s coffer are not ready to give in so easily. They try to fight to the last to ensure their self-interests even after their exit. This is what Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa is doing. This scenario applies to almost all parties.
Corruption,its consequences to one's conscience in not holding the Office,where the cause for Corruption rose is all a matter for the 'outsiders' to worry about.When the'accused'has followers to support in the Legislature he can continue(read fool)in the office,where he took oath in the name of God to (self?)serve the Interest of the State. WHAT A CONTINUING CRUEL JOKE?????THIS BRAND OF DEMOCRACY????
Yeddyurappa has been having some trouble or the other right from day
one. No use being in power with such name.
High dramas have become part and parcel of Indian politics. BJP which used to always bark against corruption has attained the status of highly corrupted parties like congress and BSP. Crores and crores of rupees are being looted by the politicians. Nowadays, politics is a big business. It becomes a big route of earning illegal wealth. Many more Lokayukthas are required to unearth this type of scams. Who can save this country?
If the BJP believes that power is more important than principles , it must pamper BSY. Otherwise, let them ask him to absolve himself and then try to dictate terms for the state. While BJP may lose power now , in the long term it will regain peple's faith if it acts fairly now
The land known for its high moral values has declined to become the abode of corrupt.
BJP is flouting all democratic norms a la Congress. Poeple of Karnataka elected the representatives and their Chief Minister not the observers from Delhi. It's a pity that the party is toothless in punishing the guilty and not allowing the legislators to elect their leader.
It is a sad state of affairs in our country when responsible individuals in the forefront of public life can't behave with grace and dignity, particularly when it comes to leaving office. We have seen this happen in the case of Raja and Dayanidhi Maran & now Yeddyurappa. And it goes to prove the BJP is no exception despite all the homilies it delivers from time to time. Any talk of controlling or preventing corruption by the principal opposition party will only sound hollow if they can't throw out Yeddyurappa forthwith. The whole country is watching and the electoral fortunes of BJP in coming years including 2014 will much depend on the way this situation is handled.
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