Is Yediyurappa Fit to be CM? - Deve Gowda
Times of India
Bangalore, Sep 30: The BJP’s wait for power seems to have been prolonged. As BJP trouble-shooter Yashwant Sinha projected a picture of tranquility after the resignation of tourism minister B Sriramulu, JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda appeared to be far from satisfied.
Gowda has now gone for the jugular: he has told Sinha he is prepared to transfer power, but cannot guarantee the longevity of a BJP-JD(S) government with Yediyurappa as chief minister.
Soon after landing in Bangalore on Friday night, Sinha dashed to the residence of Gowda, with whom he shares a rapport. Gowda reeled off a litany of complaints against Yediyurappa that ranged from the latter colluding with Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise promoter Ashok Kheny to allegations of succumbing to the liquor lobby — the deputy CM holds the excise portfolio.
At the end of the talks, sources told STOI, Gowda tossed the ball back in the BJP’s court, asking: “In the wake of all these misdemeanours of Yediyurappa, does he still deserve to be given the CM’s post? If power is transferred, no assurance can be given on the government’s continuance.’’ He gave Sinha a dossier on Yediyurappa.
Sinha summoned and obtained the resignation of Sriramulu, who had accused CM of hiring killers to murder him. Speaking to reporters, the BJP point man said the “congenial atmosphere’’ demanded by Gowda had been created. “I am ready to hold talks at the time, date and day convenient to Gowda.’’
But he did not speak about his meeting with Gowda on Friday night. On Saturday, the latter remained unavailable to Sinha as he and Kumaraswamy went on a pilgrimage to Trichy. Sriramulu arrived in Bangalore in his private aircraft on Saturday. Before submitting his resignation, he displayed a bullet which, he said, was one among the four fired at him and MLC G Janardhan Reddy, allegedly by men hired by Kumaraswamy. “Both of us surviving is a miracle. When the attack was happening, the local police were speaking to the CM. I am searching for the remaining three bullets,’’ he said.
Gowda had cancelled his September 27 talks with the BJP’s central leadership and returned in a huff after Sriramulu hurled the attempt-to-murder charge against his son. He had asked the BJP leaders to create a “conducive atmosphere’’ for holding discussions.
While the BJP was doing everything to placate Gowda, the Congress added its bit to the drama. Opposition leader N Dharam Singh ruled out extending support to the JD(S) in the event of the power-transfer talks failing. “We are ready for mid-term polls,’’ he maintained.
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