The >cartoon on Karnataka (July 10) was worth a thousand words. The happenings in the State with respect to change in leadership have been quite appalling. Caste has assumed centre stage, relegating more pressing concerns to the background. Karnataka is a progressive, culturally rich, industrially advanced State. What it needs is a strong administration backed by dynamic leadership. Unfortunately, the past few years have been very regressive on account of weak leadership, further weakened by the ruling BJP’s internal squabbles.
P.R. Sangam,
Secunderabad
Those who live by the sword die by the sword. The BJP came to power in Karnataka using caste politics. With the party high command surrendering to the blackmail tactics of B.S. Yeddyurappa and replacing Sadananda Gowda, a Vokkaliga, with Jagadish Shettar, a Lingayat, it is set to lose power because of the politics of caste. The manner in which Mr. Gowda’s resignation was obtained has created disenchantment among not only his community but also the people of Karnataka in general. Mr. Gowda, during his stewardship of 11 months, never allowed himself to be distracted, and concentrated on good governance. He was a man of clean image.
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana,
Mysore
The political musical chair being played in Karnataka with the blessings and approval of the BJP’s central leadership has left the people of the State dismayed and disgusted. Mr. Gowda emerged as the consensus candidate after Mr. Yeddyurappa was forced to quit as Chief Minister but he was never allowed a free hand. The BJP high command has once again succumbed to the political blackmail of Mr. Yeddyurappa by naming his ‘foe-turned-friend’ Shettar as its third CM.
Shahabuddin Nadeem,
Bangalore
