Crowds, Reddy Brothers and their `Amma’ Attend, Nothing Spectacular at BJP Bash
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

BANGALORE, JUN 25: Unlike the first anniversary of Karnataka  chief minister B S Yeddyurappa regime, which was boycotted by the all powerful Bellary mining lords and their followers as also the present State BJP president K S Eshwarappa last year, the second year anniversary turned out to be a bigger show in more ways than one.

If the first year’s celebrations of the Yeddyurappa regime were held at the National College Grounds in Basavanagudi, the gala celebrations held nearly a month after the completion of two years in office were held at the sprawling Bangalore Palace grounds on a much bigger scale. While L K Advani, the tallest BJP leader after former prime minister A B Vajpayee, and the then national party president Rajnath Singh were among the key participants last year, the national leadership was virtually absent at the Sadhana Samavesha held on Friday.

Of course, senior BJP leader and former national president Venkaiah Naidu, who incidentally is a Rajya Sabha member from the state, and national general secretary Ananth Kumar, who is the Bangalofre south lok sabha member, were among the key participants. But they cannot really be counted as national leaders, at least as far as the state BJP is concerned. But what made this year’s celebrations significant is the presence of the ministerial duo of Bellary Reddy brothers --- Gali Janardhana Reddy and Gali Karunakar Reddy – and their close confidant B Sriramulu, as well as the BJP’s opposition leader in the lok sabha Sushma Swaraj, who is publicly acknowledged as the ``amma’’ of Bellary mining lords and the key saffron leader who ensured Yeddyurappa’s continuance as the chief minister when the Reddys raised the banner of revolt, on the dias along with the chief minister. Along with these leaders, Eshwarapa as state BJP president and the former state assembly speaker and present minister Jagadish Shettar, were also present in the front row.

All the arrangements for the second anniversary were on a bigger and grand scale that last year with elaborate efforts to provide food to the thousands of people, who had been mobilised from different districts. Even the size of the crowd was much bigger. Though the state BJP leaders and some of the key ministers claimed that at least lakh people were present, easily over 50,000 people had assembled at the venue with arrangements for bigger television screens and even wide screens for enabling even the people seated at a distance to have a clear view of the proceedings. Evidently, the sadhana samavesha to mark the two-year rule turned out to be a big and grand extravaganza.

However, there was nothing in the speeches to cheer the audience. If Yeddyurappa refrained from making any announcements regarding the launching of new schemes or promises of more benefits/concessions in order not to incur the wrath of the opposition parties, especially when the government is getting ready to face the state legislature session from Monday, June 28, Sushma Swaraj in her Hindi speech merely described the various schemes launched and implemented by the first-ever BJP government in the south. The other speakers, Venkaiah Naidu or Ananth Kumar, too did not or could not mesmerize the crowd.

The only significant point that was made by Sushma Swaraj was that completion of two years was just a major landmark in the five-year journey of the government for the all round development of the state. The government needs to carry all sections of society in the path of development and ensure a better deal for the most neglected and downtrodden. ``Shortcomings and drawbacks any would be sorted out through mutual discussion within the party forum,” she remarked indirectly reminding Yeddyurappa that he needs to carry the Reddy brothers with him.

Eshwarappa too made the same point as Sushma Swaraj when he pointed out that the differences, if any, would be sorted out within the party. ``Let us all work together for the development of the State and the welfare of the people. We are happy after completing two years in power but our joy and happiness will be much more at the end of next three years, when come back to power with a bigger mandate,” he said.

The chief minister, in his speech, asserted that the government would be organising conferences of the thousands of poor girl beneficiaries of the Bhagyalakshmi scheme different districts and those who had benefitted from various other schemes of the government. ``I will never cheat or betray the trust and confidence of the farmers,” he said urging the opposition leaders to support and cooperate with the government in its efforts to work for the state’s progress and development instead of creating hurdles. We should wipe the tears of the poor and discharge our duties. There is no dearth of money. What is lacking is honest efforts and will power,” he said declaring that power or position was not permanent.

Yeddyurappa urged the opposition not to mislead or misguide the people and cooperate with the government for the larger interests of the state and its people. If the people have to struggle and beg for food, shelter, clothing, jobs or educational facilities for their children even 60 years after independence, it was a shame and the elected representatives must shoulder the blame, he said promising to work with greater zeal and dedication.

Venkaiah Naidu, in his characteristic style, attacked the Congress-led UPA regime and the Delhi government and said Yeddyurappa regime’s performance in 2 years was far better. ``In Delhi, the chief minister (Sheila Dixit) presides and madam (Sonia Gandhi) decides; prime minister presides and nobody decides,” he said urging the state Congressmen not to convert the Raj Bhavan into a Congress Bhavan by running to the governor with complaints on each and every issue. Raj Bhavan should not be used for destabilizing the government, he said.

Ananth Kumar, who has a penchant for using cricket analogy in his speeches, said the people of Karnataka had voted with a decisive mandate for BJP government under Yeddyurappa as they were fed up with the 20-20 rule under the fractured mandate to enable a full test match lasting a five-year term.``In 1987, Yeddyurapa was the leader of BJP legislature party when he was the sole member. Now, BJP has 123 MLAs, 43 MLCs, 19 lok sabha members and 4 rajya sabha members. The party will grow in stature and strength and come back to power with a bigger mandate after 3 years if the present tempo of development continued,” he said.

He attacked the Congress-led UPA regime for not extending the benefits due to the state and for not granting the national security guards hub to Bangalore. The centre should not give step-motherly treatment to Karnataka merely because it is ruled by BJP, he said.

Chief Secretary S V Ranganath welcomed the gathering, while information and IT/BT minister Katta Subramanya Naidu proposed a vote of thanks.  Sushma Swaraj released CDs containing a documentary on the achievements of the Yeddyurappa regime during the last two years while the chief minister released copies of a booklet on the two-year rule of the government entitled ``New Dimension to Development.”