Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 26: Within the state BJP circles, likely reasons which culminated in the sudden turnaround of Eshwarappa from being a strong dissident leader and critic of state Chief Minister (CM), B S Yeddyurappa, into a mellowed-down leader who declares that there is no dissidence in the state BJP, are being debated. The sudden volte-face by the state BJP president, that too at a time when it appeared that Yeddyurappa’s ouster was imminent, had surprised many.

Now it is being analyzed that Eshwarappa had expected that himself or rural development minister, Jagadish Shettar, will rise to become the state’s CM. However, he realized with the passage of time, that party’s national general secretary and dissident MP, Anant Kumar, was planning to occupy this seat. As soon as he learnt about this shocking development, Eshwarappa decided to retrace his steps, it is said.

Eshwarappa will not get any benefit if Anant Kumar becomes the CM. Moreover, if he succeeds in unseating Yeddyyurappa, Eshwarappa now feels it might be difficult for him to get elected again from the CM’s home district. In addition, he sensed that the national leadership of the BJP was not keen on replacing Yeddyurappa at present. Because of these reasons, Eshwarappa turned into a loyal follower of the CM from being a dissident, and changed his statement from, ‘discontentment is brewing within the party MLAs’ into ‘there is no dissidence, MLAs are happy’.

Anant Kumar has always proved to be a nagging dissident leader for Yeddyurappa. Even when the state BJP joined hands with the JDS in forming the government, Anant had continued to be a detractor of Yeddyurappa. Anant Kumar has always trained guns at Yeddyurappa from the shoulders of other leaders like Eshwarappa, Shettar, D H Shankaramurthy, Basanagouda Patil Yetnal, etc. Relying on the advice given by Anant, Eshwarappa, Shettar, and Shankaramurthy, had visited New Delhi together to complain against Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa is known to hound his enemies, and he has always been trying to tame the dissidents through various means.

It is gathered that Shettar too is unhappy at the fact that Anant is eying the post which he wants to occupy. At the same time, he finds it difficult to join hands with Yeddyurappa again, as he fears the CM may not trust him any more. Another reason for Shettar to remain in the dissidents’ camp is that the mining barons from Bellary were instrumental in making him a minister. Now, the Reddys are backing Anant Kumar. Therefore, he is under an obligation to be in the dissidents camp, it is being analyzed.