Narayana Swamy
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 10: In a sudden political development, Karnataka BJP on Tuesday July 10 plunged into fresh crisis, with chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who had assured full co-operation to the high command with regard to Shettar's appointment as the new CM, reportedly doing a u-turn after getting unprecedented support from his fellow Vokkaligas state-wide.
On Monday, the Vokkaliga community who gathered in thousands in Bangalore forced Gowda not to bow to the high command so easily, and requested him not to submit his resignation to the governor until equal prominence is given to their community in state.
Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh who arrived in Bangalore to participate in BJP legislative party meet on Tuesday are reportedly stunned by D V Sadananda Gowda's decision.
The party legislative meet which was supposed to start at 10.30 am at city's Capitol Hotel, has still not started (until 12 noon) due to the non-arrival of CM Gowda and his followers.
Only Yeddyurappa and his followers reached the hotel even before 10 am, and are now waiting for the DVS group of MLAs to arrive.
It is reported that the DVS group has put forth three conditions prior to attending the legislative meet:
1. D V Sadananda Gowda should be installed as state BJP chief
2. Deputy CM's name should be announced during the meeting
3. Full cabinet should be sworn in along with Jagadish Shettar, and all the ministers' name should be released.
The tough conditions put forward by the DVS group could prove fatal for BJP, as the BJP high command seems to have no real 'power' in its hands either to take tough decisions and recommand the state assembly or try another round of 'peace-making' with DVS and his followers.
Until Monday, Gowda was soft in his stand, and had agreed to the entire formulae presented by the high command, but the sudden support from the anti-Yeddyurappa group and the Vokkaliga community has made him a 'bold' leader now.
For the first time since dissidence broke out in BJP, the MLAs of the coastal belt expressed open support to DVS. Krishna Palemar, Dr Mallika Prasad, Angara, Raghupathi Bhat and Yogish Bhat are already camping in 'Anugraha', the cheif minister's official residence.
At the moment, three vital meetings are going on in the BJP camp - DVS followers' meeting at 'Anugraha'; R Ashok who is lobbying for deputy CM post with his meeting in his residence along with his supporters; and others gathered at the Capitol hotel.