From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 27: Even as former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his supporters are gunning for the removal of Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and installing their present favourite Jagadish Shettar, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, in the coveted post, senior BJP leader and former Medical Education Minister B Ramachandra Gowda has claimed that he too is one of the aspirants for the post of the Chief Minister.
Ramachandra Gowda, who got elected to the Legislative Council for the fifth consecutive time though with a narrow margin recently, told reporters who asked him after his taking the oath as MLC on he was an aspirant for the Cabinet Minister’s post, he shot back: “Why only the Minister? I am aspirant for the Chief Minister’s post.”
''I am one of the candidates aspiring to become the Chief Minister,” he said contending: '' I am most eligible person and have all the necessary qualifications.”
Ramachandra Gowda went on to claim that, “I am one of the senior-most leaders of the BJP. I was the first person to hoist the Jana Sangh’s flag in Bangalore.”
With Yeddyurappa making all attempts to replace D V Sadananda Gowda from the Chief Minister’s post, several BJP leaders have been pitching to grab the top job.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar, State BJP President K S Eshwarappa and Minister for Energy and Food and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje expressed their desire to become the Chief Minister of the State.
The BJP national general secretary and former Union minister Ananth Kumar is also making quiet efforts to get the coveted post if Sadananda Gowda were to be ousted with hardly an year to go for the next assembly elections in the State.
Ramachandra Gowda was elected from the Bangalore Graduates’ Constituency for the fifth consecutive time. Pro-term chairman of the Council M V Rajasekharan administered oath to the MLC.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, MLCs Ganesh Karnik, and D S Veeraiah were present and congratulated Ramachandra Gowda.
Ramachandra Gowda had resigned as Minister after his alleged involvement in irregularities in the appointment of faculty members to medical colleges. He was subsequently appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, a post enjoying cabinet minister’s rank and perks.
A few days before the election to the council, he had resigned from his post in the State Planning Board.