Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 14: The monopoly H D Revanna has been enjoying with his vice-like grip on Karnataka Milk Federation since the last 15 years, is set to come to an end this month, in all likelihood. July 20 might well be the day of his waterloo, as the BJP government, which has been making an effort to shake Revanna out of the seat of the Chairman of KMF, has prepared the ground well for Revanna's ouster.

Revanna, a vocal and vociferous leader of the JDS and the son of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, was targetted by Yeddyurappa immediately after the BJP formed the government in the state. Besides fighting tooth and nail the efforts of KMF to hike the price of milk since a year, the government ordered re-audit of KMF to bring Revanna to book. Revanna's efforts to get court relief against this step did not succeed.

In the election held recently for 12 district milk unions, BJP succeeded in bagging 10, leaving only Hassan and Kolar to the JDS. Dharwad, Shimoga, Raichur-Bellary, Bijapur, Bangalore, Mandya, Mangalore, Tumkur, Mysore and Belgaum milk unions have gone to the BJP fold.  Out of a total of 19 representatives of KMF, 10 are with the BJP and the government is entitled to nominate three directors. Moreover, three government officials connected to the KMF are entitled to vote. Gulbarga-Bidar milk union that has been superseded does not have the right to vote.

Although a section in the BJP is trying to make either Araga Jnanendra or Srinivas Gowda the next KMF chairman to reduce the domination of Reddy Brothers, in all likelihood, MLA Somashekhar Reddy will succeed Revanna as the next KMF chairman. Somashekhar Reddy, the only clan from the Bellary Reddy families devoid of any position so far, has already wrested the presidentship of Bellary-Raichur Milk Union. Jnanendra and Srinivas Gowda will have to be first nominated to the board by the government, to be eligible to file their nominations to the coveted post.

Revanna had earlier thundered that he knows how to play political cards to keep the chairmanship of KMF with himself. However, with the BJP gaining the upper hand in the district milk unions and ominous signs of his utter defeat becoming more prominent now, it is said that Revanna has decided not to fight the election.