Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE POLITICAL OUTBURST YEDURAPPA’S BUDGET SPEECH HITS MULTIPLE TARGETS.

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE POLITICAL OUTBURST 

 YEDURAPPA’S BUDGET SPEECH HITS MULTIPLE TARGETS. 

 The Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar proved that he is a loyal to former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa. The day after Yedurappa lambasted the state government for its inept handing of the drought situation and demanded waiving of all agricultural loans; Jagadish Shettar announced waiving of all agriculture loans up to Rs.25000 including interest. Shettar also conceded all the demands made by Yedurappa in his speech in the Assembly. In a way Yedurappa acted as the leader of the opposition in the Assembly. Yedurappa’s outbursts against his own government have not gone down well with the BJP leaders particularly the anti Yedurappa group. And this has started another round of factional feuds and this time, it will be decisive.... 

The other day former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa donned the role of an opposition leader, while lambasting the government’s inability to fight the drought in the state. Yedurappa’s outbursts in his more than an hour speech against his own government has naturally shocked the ruling party members including the ministers. Arguably, the episode was stage managed by Yedurappa to prove that he is controlling the Jagadish Shettar government. 

 True, it is the Speaker who allots time to the legislators to make their contribution to the debates. Except the Chief Minister and Opposition leader no other member is given unlimited time to speak. But for Yedurappa, there was no restriction of time which implies that the Speaker had already given him the freedom to speak as long as he wished. This is a sort of protocol violation by the Speaker for which there is no penalty. 

 It may be recalled that Yedurappa had time and again proclaimed that he would present one lakh crore budget, but could not do so during his three plus year as Chief Minister. The highest budget he presented was around 80 thousand crores. But Sadananda could actually present his first budget at more than a one lakh crore more so due to his style of functioning and revenue mobilisation. Naturally, Yedurappa became envious of Sadananda and thereby lead dissident movement against him. 

 Coming to the passing of the budget in this session, Yedurappa wanted to show who the real leader is - that is he himself. He had successfully toppled Sadananda and instated his loyalist Jagadish Shettar as the CM, but, there was a counter attack. Those MLAs with RSS background and also those who opposed Yedurappa’s dictatorial and casteist politics have now grouped against Yedurappa. The Sadananda group which boasts of more than 60 MLAs is demanding equal distribution of power and powerful portfolios. They want state BJP president ship for Sadananda and in a way Yedurappa is at the receiving end. If the Sadananda group opts for desperate action in resigning their posts, the Jagadish Shettar government will fall. In that event, the entire blame will be laid at Yedurappa. 

 It is an open secret that Yedurappa was planning to form a regional party for the last one year. He wanted to get expelled from BJP so that he could gain sympathy by posing as a martyr. At the same time, the high command wanted Yedurappa to go out of the party on his own. That is why they tolerated Yedurappa’s venomous outbursts against everybody in the high command including L.K.Advani. They succumbed to his blackmail and removed Sadananda as CM who was performing rather well despite Yedurappa group’s non co-operation. They have now brought in Yedurappa’s candidate Jagadish Shettar as the CM. 

 Whatsoever, Yedurappa wants to establish the fact that he is the defacto CM and Shettar only a dejure CM and he therefore stroked at the budget on the pretext of laxity of the state government in tackling the drought. He ‘arranged’ a marathon speech on budget where he took the government to task in strong words and wanted Shettar to announce many measures he had said in the speech. A meek Shettar did the rest. He announced waiving of loans and other things as demanded by Yedurappa. 

 Of course, it appeared that Yedurappa’s original target was Sadananda even though during his speech, he belittled the CM Shettar. Everybody knows that Shettar has just recently become the CM and till then, Sadananda was the CM and he had the responsibility of tackling the drought issue. On the contrary, Sadananda’s actions in tackling the drought situation were appreciated even by the central government. But Yedurappa sang a different tune to condemn him. Sadananda however hit back at Yedurappa stating that Yedurappa should not have poured venom on his own government and termed it as a tragedy. 

 Yedurappa’s highly critical budget speech also targeted the high command. Only now, the high command has realised the real colour of Yedurappa. But it still will not show the guts to discipline him. It is banking on the CBI probe to show him his correct place. At the same time, the high command cannot ignore the genuine demands of Sadananda group which is in majority. Sadananda group is all set to renew their demand for equitable distribution of power after the budget session which will conclude on 3rd August. 

 Whatsoever, Yedurappa’s outbursts against his own government has definitely shocked the BJP leaders. Yedurappa had multiple targets from the present CM Shettar to former CM Sadananda to the high command and his message was clear. One has to wait and see what message will be sent back to Yedurappa from the high command and the Sadananda group.