Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Will the resignation of chief minister (CM), B S Yediyurappa, open up opportunities for the JD(S)? Only time will tell, going by the current situation.

It is learnt that the JD(S) camp began to do calculations and permutations from Monday evening. However, its chances heavily depend on the candidate the BJP chooses to become the next chief minister (CM) of Karnataka.

If the BJP chooses a candidate who is not from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, JD(S) can hope to encash this opportunity. It might try to transform the anger of the people caused by the forcible eviction of a chief minister belonging to their community into votes in its favour. This can result in more votes for the JD(S) in north Karnataka where it does not have a strong presence. JD(S) can try to cement its base in north Karnataka and also shed the notion that the party is primarily interested in Vokkaliga welfare.

However, if a Lingayat leader becomes the CM, JD(S) plans will suffer. The result will vary based on the response of Yediyurappa to the choice of the new CM and his next political move. So at present, it plans to wait for the new CM to be decided.

In the meantime, the Congress leaders have suddenly turned sympathetic towards Yediyurappa’s ouster. Speaking at Mulgund, Gadag MLA H K Patil, said that the people should note that the chief minister became emotional and sobbed at having to make an exit. He said that political anarchy has been created in Karnataka with the forcible exit of the CM, which will pave way for more corruption. He said that it is unfortunate that the BJP leaders tortured Yediyurappa and made him resign.