Bangalore: Mining Barons Intensify Offensive, Decide to Take CM Head On

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Oct 27: The fissures between the Chief Minister (CM), Yeddyurappa, who is asserting his authority of late, and the camp of Reddy Brothers, which is angry about what the legislators loyal to it claim to be the undermining of their authority, are deepening. On Monday October 26, a separate meeting of the dissident legislators and ministers close to the mining barons was held here, where the participants reportedly decided to 'teach a lesson' to Yeddyurappa.

The meeting was held in a house located next to Yeddyurappa's home in Race Course Road here, which signifies that they are prepared to antagonize the CM. Yeddyurappa's claim, which came from Shimoga on Monday, that he knew about the meeting and that there are no differences with the Reddy Brothers, appears to be hollow. The CM however, repeated his earlier statement that he would hold talks with the Bellary trio.

The main grouse of the disgruntled camp is that the revenue minister, Karunakar Reddy, who is expected to play a major role in natural calamity relief operations, was sidelined while framing 'Asare' scheme meant for building houses for the flood-affected people, by directly giving the charge of the scheme to a committee headed by Rajya Sabha member, Rajiv Chandrashekhar, without consulting the minister concerned. The dissidents also say that during the visit of flood-affected areas, Yeddyurappa has been cold-shouldering the Reddy Brothers, by planning his visits on his own and going to places alone.

"We discussed the political situation in the state. The details of discussions will not be revealed now. As a measure to counter the decision to neglect me, the revenue minister of the state, while drafting the 'Asare' scheme, I will exercise my power as the revenue minister of the state, as the CM has overlooked the entire revenue department. I will do what needs to be done," fumed revenue minister, G Karunakar Reddy, after the meeting. He clarified that he will lay the foundation stone for the construction of 50,000 homes for the flood-ravaged villages, at a function to be held at Bellary on October 18. He also asserted that the CM will not be invited for this ceremony. "We will not invite him. If he attends it voluntarily, we will not object," he added. This will be parallel to the foundation stone laying ceremony for the official 'Asare' scheme announced by the CM, proposed to be held in Shirabadagi village near Pattadakal on November 2, for which union home minister P Chidambaram has been invited to preside.

It is reliably learnt that the meeting resolved to continue to fight against the leadership of Yeddyurappa, till he is replaced. If this does not happen, the dissident MLAs have decided to resign en masse, after waiting for a few days. It is learnt that the camp has requested assembly speaker, Jagadish Shettar and energy minister, Eshwarappa, both of whom are unhappy with the CM, to join hands with them. The meeting continued for over two hours, during which period, the Reddy Brothers said, they would continue their offensive till all their supporters get good portfolios and are made in-charge ministers of districts. It is learnt that over 50 MLAs, who are known to be nursing one grouse or the other against the leadership of Yeddyurappa, have been invited to come to the city on Tuesday October 27. The meeting felt that the CM had rubbed the Reddy Brothers the wrong way, by handing over the implementation of 'Asare' scheme to a committee headed by Rajiv Chandrashekhar, instead of the revenue minister himself. "Is Rajiv Chandrashekhar superior to the revenue department? This is an insult to the revenue minister. This needs to be rebutted," the meeting felt in unison.

The participants of the meeting also felt that the CM’s action in deputing home minister Dr V S Acharya instead of the revenue minister, for seeking additional assistance from the centre, was the other instance in which the mining barons were slighted. The Reddy Brothers are also angry that the people, who had crossed over to the BJP from other parties at the instance of the Reddys, were not given good portfolios. They also resent the fact that the Gadag district deputy commissioner, who was close to the Reddys, was suddenly transferred by the CM without consulting the in-charge minister, Sriramulu.  It is said that even when Yeddyurappa comes to Bellary, he never holds any consultations with Sriramulu.

In the meanwhile, a few legislators, under the leadership of Honnali MLA Renukacharya, held another meeting in a place that was kept a secret. Beloor Gopalakrishna, Dr Sarvabhauma Bagali and some other disgruntled MLAs attended the meeting. It is said that they resent the fact that V P Baligar, chief secretary to the Cheif Minister, has not been giving any weightage to their instructions or requests.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, R V Deshapande has challenged the CM to immediately drop his three cabinet colleagues, Janardan Reddy, Karunakar Reddy and B Sriramulu, who have been fighting against his leadership, in spite of continuing to be in the government, and initiate disciplinary action against them. Speaking at Dharwad on Monday, he said that the cold war between the two groups has been hampering the flood relief operations.

Yeddyurappa has more than a handful of problems to handle, in addition to the flood situation. The next few days promise to be interesting, as far as political scenario in the state is concerned.