Bangalore: A Billion-rupee Question - Kaun Banega 'Mukhya Mantri' ?

from Daijiworld's political correspondent
Pics from Akash Poojari
for Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MB)

Bangalore, Jun 21: For the past few days, the political circles here have been gripped by suspense and curiosity, because of several unexpected turn of events.

The handing over of the chief minister's 'gaddi' from the JD(S) to the BJP is to take place in the first week of October, 2007, in accordance with the coalition agreement reached between the two parties in early 2006.

The present CM Kumaraswamy coming out of his office in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, June 21 - Is he counting his days, or will he get an extension of lease?

Already enough feathers have been ruffled by statements made by JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in the past six months. First, he said B S Yediyurappa, current dyCM, or anyone else in the BJP was not mature enough to take on the mantle of chief ministership. Next he said that the hand-over would be a reality only 'Raj Dharma' - whatever that means in his dictionary - was followed by the BJP.

Then came the now-famous Iqbal Ansari bombshells during the Ullal by-election near Mangalore. Ansari, a JD(S) minister holding a prominent portfolio in the current coalition, kept on parroting that Kumaraswamy would continue to the CM even after October and that he had the support of over 100 MLAs including those from Congress and the BJP.

Ansari's statements made major headlines because on one occasion he said so during an election campaign in Ullal while the CM himself shared the dais. The CM did not respond nor did he snub Ansari for making such an explosive statement, which was likely to upset the applecart of the delicate coalition.

It embarrassed the BJP so much, yet they did not react very forcefully until the Ullal election got over. Once the result was announced, the BJP leaders blamed Ansari's statements for its defeat. Deve Gowda made a cosmetic damage control by getting a letter from Ansari undertaking not to issue statements on future leadership and related matters, and released the copies of the letter to the media. That prevented the BJP from making an issue of the matter.

'Mukhya Mantri' Chandru, fresh from the breakfast he hosted for Deve Gowda, and MP Anant Kumar showing unity

However, a few latest developments have created further confusion and curiosity in the political circles in the state capital. First, K S Eswarappa, a senior BJP minister, himself a contender for the CM's post in the October switchover, and a few other ministers and dissident BJP MLAs joined a dinner meeting in a posh hotel. The state BJP leadership has reportedly taken the matter seriously, on suspicion of its being a dissidents' meet. But Eswarappa and Co have denied there being any motives behind the meeting.

Secondly, JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda paid a widely-publicized visit to the residence of 'Mukhya Mantri' Chandru on Wednesday, purportedly for breakfast. The visit almost coincided with the visit of former union minister and BJP functionary in charge of Karnataka Yashwant Sinha to Bangalore.

Chandru, a former Sandalwood actor, earned the epithet 'Mukhya Mantri' because of a role of a chief minister he had played in a Kannada movie of the same name. He has reportedly felt having been cornered in the party for too long and was disappointed when he was not made a minister in the coalition government in February 2006 nor in the process of expansion on two occasions.

During Sharma's visit, some ministers and MLAs are understood to have represented to him against election of Yediyurappa to the CM's post in October. Interestingly, one of the reasons cited by them is Yediyurappa's decision to put his protege, MLC Shobha Karandlaje, in charge of the campaign in Ullal. Her very presence spoilt the party for the BJP in the election equations, feels the anti-Yediyurappa camp.

Former union minister and BJP's Karnataka desk in-charge Yashwant Sinha being welcomed with a Mysore 'Peta' (headgear) by dyCM Yediyurappa, MP Anant Kumar, MP and state party president D V Sadananda Gowda, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar and others

It is an open secret that two strong factions have been operatiing within the BJP in the  state. One is of Yediyurppa and other is under the leadership of MP Anant Kumar from Bangalore. Yediyurappa belongs to the politically powerful community of Lingayats, while Anant Kumar is a Brahmin. So the caste factor is also very powerful.

The Anant Kumar faction has openly expressed dissatisfaction over Yediyurappa's style of functioning as deputy chief minister. His camp has reportedly submitted enough charges against Yediyurappa to Yashwant Sinha on June 21, said a party insider to this correspondent. Sources said that Anant Kumar is sparing no effort in ensuring that Yediyurappa is deprived of the CM's post. Sources close to him said Kumar himself would not be averse to the idea of becoming a compromise candidate for chief ministership. At least 20 BJP MLAs have expressed their opposition to Yediyurappa's ascent to the CM's gaddi. However, Yediyurappa and Kumar showed a semblance of unity in the presence of Sinha on Thursday.

Some of them are said to have demanded to change the party leadership from the hands of D V Sadananda Gowda, who is a staunch supporter of Yediyurappa. In all this muddle, many JD(S) leaders are said to be not in favour of transfer of power to the BJP and hence trying to win over the disgruntled members the BJP to form a fresh government under H D Revanna, another son of H D Deve Gowda and a present minister in the coalition government.

The smart operator and manipulator that he is, H D Deve Gowda, may himself be not in favour of transfer of power, feel many BJP insiders.

Congress cannot do much in the situation, but would definitely gleefully welcome the fall of the present government, which could ultimately pave the way for fresh, mid-term elections. Even if that happens, the JD(S) camp would still be happy, since Kumaraswamy could still continue as the caretaker CM until the elections.

All said and done, the question still making rounds in the political circles is - Kaun Banega Mukhya Mantri, Yediyurappa, Anant Kumar, Eswarappa or Revanna? Or would a dark horse like Chandru, who could be reel-life-to-real-life Mukhya Mantri, emerge, perhaps with the support of H D Deve Gowda?

Let's keep our fingers crossed.