BJP will Suffer if Yeddyurappa's Nominee Occupies CM's Office: Advani
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Aug 3: The chances of minister for rural development, Jagadish Shettar, taking over the mantle of the state from outgoing Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, seem to have brightened with the stern stance taken by Advani against Yeddyurappa and his nominees.
Advani has reportedly commented that some of the politicians in Karnataka are worse than robbers, and lamented the party high command’s action in allowing Yeddyurappa to continue in office, in spite of his past recommendations for his ouster. “If Yeddyurappa or his nominee occupies the CM’s office in Karnataka, the party will suffer further harm. The party should never compromise on values and ethics, even if that means losing power in Karnataka. Never buckle under pressure being mounted by Yeddyurappa. The party has suffered a lot because of him,” he is said to have told the high command of BJP. He also insisted that the BJP government’s only aim for the next two years should be on good governance in the state. Advani feels that Yeddyurappa, who had challenged the party top brass through his defiance to the instructions to step down, should not be allowed to dictate terms.
This does not augur well for MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, nominated by Yeddyurappa to succeed him. Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitely have been meeting every minister and party legislator from different factions in Bangalore and holding talks with them.
Shettar, who enjoys support from Ananth Kumar and Eshwarappa factions, has expressed confidence that he will get chosen as the next CM of Karnataka. He also is said to have the backing of the Lingayat Swamijis. In all likelihood, the choice of the next CM will by way of ballets, as BJP legislators are set to meet later in the day to choose their new leader, and even Shettar and home minister, Ashok, said the choice will be through secret polling.
In the meanwhile, Yeddyurappa insisted that he will concentrate on undertaking tour of the state and building the party in the coming years. He also expressed confidence of coming clean of the charges levelled by opposition parties, claiming that he has done nothing wrong, and that it was the conspiracy of the opposition that he is being projected as a wrongdoer.