Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE ROCKING CHAIR POWER STRUGGLE IN BJP, ELECTIONS, THE ONLY ANSWER???

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

THE ROCKING CHAIR! 

POWER STRUGGLE IN BJP, ELECTIONS, THE ONLY ANSWER??? 

 B.S.Yeddyurappa is staking his claim to the CM post with more vigour and zeal aftermath the High Court quashed FIR against him. The Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda who represents the BJP High Command in the faction studded State BJP is unconcerned about Yedurappa and his tantrums. The State BJP President K.S.Eswarappa is resisting his attempts at getting to the CM post again, with all his might. While Yedurappa’s chances of becoming the CM are remote, there are more chances of Yedurappa, in desperation, toppling the government. As the instability factor grips the BJP government, it is high time to bring stability even if it be at the cost of elections....

 After the BJP High command forced Yedurappa to resign from the CM post on the disclosure of Mining scam report, Yedurappa has been making rigorous attempts at getting back the CM chair. 

While he had appointed Sadananda as his successor, all went well for a couple of months earlier, but gradually Sadananda started asserting authority and obtained the High Command backing. Yedurappa’s total hold on the party and the government is fast losing. Now, there are two distinct factions in the State BJP, one headed by the State BJP President Eshwarappa and Sadananda, while the other being led by Yedurappa. 

 Yedurappa, on the other hand, was making all out efforts to become the CM again. He even asked Sadananda to resign but he did not oblige and stated that he will resign the moment the High Command asks him to do. Yedurappa as usual threatened to topple the government by forming a new party. He used the lingayat lobby to arm-twist the High Command and even arranged a meeting of his loyalist MLAs, MPs and Ministers to show his strength. But nothing affected the High Command. The National President of the BJP Nitin Gadkari made it plain that those who want to walk out of BJP should do so, the earlier, the better. He also made it clear that there will be no change of the CM. 

Yedurappa, unmindful of the consequences of his dissident actions, went ahead with his plan of action. The recent HC order quashing the FIR against him in the Mining scam has come as a shot in the arm for him. With renewed vigour, he has staked his claim to the CM post with all his might. He had already decided to press his claim as he knew that if he does not make it to the CM post this time; he may never become the CM again. Moreover, the elections are a just a year away. 

And the High Command as usual, is not prepared to concede to Yedurappa’s demand. It has asked Sadananda to concentrate on the budget preparations and administration as Eshwarappa will be there to look after the party and the feud. The High Command has taken a firm stand vis-a-vis Yedurappa. There are about 10 serious cases against Yedurappa and his family. The quashing of FIR by the HC does not mean much as the issue has to be settled by the Supreme Court. There is all the possibility of the SC ordering a CBI probe into the illegal mining and Yedurappa then will be in soup again. 

 The High Command realises the damaging potentialities of Yedurappa and his cohorts. But they are not prepared to rock the boat at this juncture particularly when Sadananda is about to present the budget in a few days. Moreover, Sadananda has done his job pretty well without giving room for any controversies or scams. He is a person who suits both the BJP and the RSS and his clean image is an added advantage to the party. 

On the other hand, Yedurappa has become a big headache and embarrassment to the party. He is assertive and has already shown that he can defy the High Command if his interests are involved. 

 Arguably, the politics in the State has entered the decisive stage. There are more chances of Yedurappa charging the Sadananda government to topple it. 

 Eventually, the state administration has come to a grinding halt. The bureaucrats are afraid to take major decisions. The ministers are engaged in dissident activities either pro or anti Yedurappa. There is also the threat of few BJP loyalist MLAs resigning in case Yedurappa is reinstated as the CM! There is a complete breakdown of law and order. ‘Instability’ has crept into the vitals of the administration. 

 Therefore, the time has come to put a stop to the instability of the government. Let the BJP High command take a firm decision about Yedurappa and end the instability factor, even if it is going for fresh elections. 

That is all.