Shobha and Yeddy’s Smile Set to Return
Bangalore, Sep 22 (DHNS): Ten months ago, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa shed tears when he had to drop his confidante, Shobha Karandlaje from the Cabinet.
It is time for him to smile as he has been able to make the party high command agree to her return to his Cabinet.
The reasons for sacking or reinduction are not officially made known by the party. But Karandlaje, a Bunt, is going to take oath of office for the second time in last 28 months.
Hailing from Puttur, Karandlaje represents Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency in Bangalore. When she is inducted, the strength of Vokkaligas in the Cabinet will be four. Five earlier, the number was reduced by one with the exit of Ramachandra Gowda.
Out of Cabinet, the 44-year-old Karandlaje did not fade away from public gaze. She kept herself busy, attending public programmes and meetings in her constituency. She ensured that the victims of endosulfan victims in Puttur received financial help from the government.
She has been working for the rights of sexual minorities. She will be the only woman in the 34-strong men team. Karandlaje had often said that she was “relieved” at becoming a former minister. On the eve of entering the government again, how does she feel?
“I am scared. For the last 10 months, I was free from major responsibilities. Now I am going to be vested with major responsibility. I don’t know how I will manage.” She had no clue to why she was sacked and why she is now being reinducted. She said she always obeyed the diktats of her party.
To a question whether she would get back the RD&PR portfolio, Shobha said she has “no preferences”.
Reddys Seethe Over CM’s Moves :
The Bellary Reddy brothers on Tuesday threatened to raise a banner of revolt if the Chief Minister goes ahead with his Cabinet reshuffling plan, slated to be held on Wednesday.
The Reddys are apparently more concerned about the possible changes in their portfolios during the reshuffle. It is said that the party high command in Delhi has expressed its surprise with the State leaders, as to how one family (meaning the Reddys) has been allowed to keep two important ministerial ports besides allowing one of the Reddy brothers to be the KMF chairman.
Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy have warned that they will not be mute spectators if the Chief Minister does not put off the reshuffle. They also lent support to the three ministers who were sacked by the Chief Minister. Shivanagouda Nayak, Goolihatti Shekhar (Independent) and Aravind Limbavali spent the day with the Reddy brothers.
“Reshuffle should not be done till it is discussed in the committee. We have already brought the issue to the notice of the party leadership in Delhi, including Sushma Swaraj,” said Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy.
Dropping ministers from the Cabinet, who have supported the Government as independent MLAs would amount to betrayal, said Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy. However, Yeddyurappa said he would be holding a meeting with the Reddy brothers and resolve the issue.
Thieves, liars, thrive in BJP: Mysore MLA
The final list of to-be-ministers left many aspirants in the party disappointed. They vent their ire against the party leadership and a few even threatened to resign as MLAs.
Four-time MLA Shankarlinge Gowda met the Chief Minister and sought a ministerial berth. But he could elicit no response from the chief minister.
As he came out of the Chief Minister’s residence, he gave vent to his anger. “Only thieves, liars and those into land mafia get prominence in the BJP. I am not getting a cabinet berth because I don’t have money.”
He challenged the party leadership to suspend him for his remarks. MLAs C T Ravi and Appachchu Ranjan threatened to submit their resignation as MLAs. They conveyed their intention to BJP state president Eshwarappa. However, nobody submitted their papers to speaker K G Bopaiah, who is in abroad.
Follower slits hand
A follower of minister Goolihatti Shekar slit his left hand at Hosadurga on Tuesday, after participating in a protest staged to demand the continuation of the minister in the State Cabinet.
The person has been identified as Obalesh Nayak. He is now being treated at the public hospital.