By Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Metro Reporter
POWERLESS SURVIVAL
CAN YEDURAPPA SURVIVE THE FUTURE?
B. S. Yedurappa, the former CM survived his turbulent past through sheer power of absolute power, manipulations, money power, poly tricks and a team of eminent lawyers who rushed to his rescue at the drop of the hat. But during the last few months, Yedurappa suffered setbacks on all fronts and finally, the Lokayukta Report on illegal mining costed him the CM post.
Now, this is the beginning of the actual downfall of Yedurappa. As an ex-CM, Yedurappa can not count on his followers, advisors, manipulators anymore. Even assuming that his successor becomes his dummy, he cannot totally remote control the Government. At the maximum he can ask the CM to bail him out from the mess and as an ex-CM, he simply cannot dictate terms.
Besides, Yedurappa through his short temper, arrogance, corruption, nepotism etc. has lost many loyal friends and even the RSS support. The BJP High Command which stood behind him like a rock in all the previous ‘revolts’, is now little interested in him. Had he resigned immediately on High Command’s order, his stock would have risen higher. But his cat and mouse game, blowing hot and cold, his attempts at dictating terms and conditions etc. have not gone well with the High Command.
Further, Yedurappa in public opinion is seen as a highly corrupt who worked for the benefit of him and his family. His total identification with the Lingayat Community and using it as a shield to protect himself is criticized in general by all.
Now, Yedurappa, after his resigning will have to face tough challenges both in the political and legal field. The high drama enacted by him prior to his resignation has already damaged his standing. Most of the leaders, who built the BJP in Karnataka brick by brick along with him, were slighted by him. He even manhandled Anantha Kumar in Delhi, under whose president ship the BJP grew tremendously and bagged 79 seats in 2004 elections. Similarly Yedurappa completely ignored the senior leaders and even the strong RSS who is the guiding spirit of BJP. He regularly played his lingayat card such that at one time many lingayat seers had even threatened to take to the streets if Yedurappa was to be harmed. Everybody from the RSS to the BJP High Command was afraid of losing the major community vote bank in case Yedurappa was sacked. However, the High Command had to take a firm stand and cleared him that he must resign or be expelled from the party even if it may cost BJP its first ever Government in South.
Whatsoever, Yedurappa is now out of power. Despite his all out efforts, he can not be a super CM. He can not imitate the total control of the Government just like Sonia Gandhi who is the supreme leader of the Congress and the UPA Government. Her word is law to the Congress party and is given due respect by the allies in the UPA as she accommodates their views. Moreover, Sonia Gandhi had turned down her selection as the PM of the country and that commands respect for her. Where as, in the state, Yedurappa has made more enemies than friends.
In fact, Yedurappa toyed with the idea of forming a regional party after his unceremonious exit. But that is easier said done. There have been cases of many leaders breaking away from the party and forming regional parties but, they have all failed miserably.
More than political, Yedurappa has to face the legal cases that are in plenty. Up till now, he had blocked all probes against his multi faceted and multidimensional scams, but the story is different now. There are five criminal cases against him under Prevention of Corruption Act of which one case has been referred by the court to the Lokayukta police for investigations. Yedurappa who got the HC ‘stay’ against the probe, will have to face the music with the ‘stay’ vacated by the HC. The entire family members of Yedurappa are accused in these cases along with few ministers.
The Lokayukta report had also indicted Yedurappa, his kith and kin and recommended their prosecution under PC Act. There are complaints against him before the Lokayukta with regard to some more scams. With absolute power at his disposal, Yedurappa had blocked any probe through ingenious ways. Now that he is out of power, the law will catch up with him sooner than later. Even if he is convicted in one case, his future is doomed.
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