State Politics
Possible change of guard in karnataka ? SUMIT PANDE
Will BS Yediyurappa trade punches as he did 10 years ago to launch his own outfit or will he hang up his gloves as and when he is asked to ?
BS Yediyurappa ' s gambit to return to the Bhartiya Janata Party had paid off . In January , 2014 , he had merged his Karnataka Janata Paksha with the BJP . And early trends flashing on TV screen showed NDA steadily inching closer to the halfway mark . By noon , 16th May , 2014 , Yediyurappa ' s supporters had started bursting crackers at his residence in Shimoga and Bengaluru . The former Karnataka Chief Minister had taken an inassailable lead over his rivals in hometown Shimoga .
As selection for the formation of the new cabinet gained momentum in Delhi , it was widely reported that the Lingayat strongman would be adequately rewarded with a plum portfolio in Modi ' s government .
A couple of days before the swearing in , an emissary from BJP ' s central leadership met Yediyurappa . The former CM was told that he would not be accommodated in the union council . With a few corruption cases still looming about , perhaps the new dispensation in Delhi thought it prudent not to
24 Legacy India | June 2021 take any chances while taking a fresh guard .
Some other leader in Yediyurappa ' s place might have taken offence and reacted strongly . But not BSY , who like any gifted exponent of politics knows the essence of timing in this craft .
The Lingayat leader kept his counsel to survive and fight another day . The patience paid off when BSY became the chief minister for the fourth time in 2019 after the collapse of HD Kumaraswamy led JD ( S ) -Congress government .
Two years later , grapevines in Bengaluru and Delhi are again abuzz with possible change of guard in Karnataka . The rebel group had camped in Delhi earlier this month to seek leadership change .
Having run many errands to Delhi , the pack is once again back in the state . CM has asked the dissidents to focus on Covid reliefwork instead . State unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel has sought to put lid on any further speculations by announcing that the chief minister will complete his term .
So , has the storm finally blown over for the septuagenarian leader ? And would he now complete his tenure ending May , 2023 ?
Two years in politics is a long time and a lot of water will flow down the Sharavati in the next two years .
As speculations continue , BSY ' s chances of continuing at the helm , it seems , would depend on BJP ' s political assessment on two counts .
First , whether the party wants to contest the next assembly polls in the state under BSY ' s leadership . If not , then what is the risk assessment on Yediyurappa ' s intent to inflicting political damage to the mother ship if the push comes to shove .
The chief minister is now all of 78 . Does he have the ability to provide effective leadership in the next assembly polls ? No doubt , he remains the tallest Lingayat leader in the state , both within and outside the BJP . And the party has indeed reaped rich befits out of successfully cultivating leadership amongst an intermediary caste . Lingayats are now BJP ' s core base vote in the state .
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