Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Mar 17: Another effort to unseat Chief Minister (CM), B S Yeddyurappa, by people who are discontented over his behaviour and actions, has begun within the BJP. The discontentment, which had raised its ugly head even as the party is bracing up for the cabinet expansion and April 9 by election, has taken the party leadership by surprise.
The state committee of the BJP has been supporting the efforts of a few ministers and legislators in collecting opinions of the legislators for the CM’s ouster, it is learnt. Getting hints that efforts were on at the party office to send him packing, Yeddyurappa came to the state office of the party along with the ministers and legislators close to him, taking the participants of the dissidents’ meeting by surprise. The meeting therefore, ended then and there. After the CM left, his detractors met again and continued with their critical analysis of CM’s functioning, in the presence of state BJP president, K S Eshwarappa, and MP, Anant Kumar. In addition to these two leaders, ministers, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Ramdas, C T Ravi, Veeranna Charantimutt, Kalakappa Bandi and many others were present at the meeting.
In all likelihood, Arun Jaitley will be rushed by the party high command to the city to sort out the issue. The dissidents want the CM to step down before the by election. Over 50 MLAs and ministers, who participated in the said meeting convened on Wednesday, expressed their anger at Yeddyurappa’s style of functioning with MP, Anant Kumar, and state BJP president, K S Eshwarappa.
In all likelihood, the BJP high command may ask Yeddyurappa to come to Delhi, and suggest him once again to put in his papers. In the meanwhile, some groups have been putting in efforts to garner support for an alternative leader in Yeddyurappa’s place. Names of Dr V S Acharya, Anant Kumar, and home minister, R Ashok, are being coined.
When questioned after he came out of the party office, Yeddyurappa rubbished the claim that signature campaign for his ouster is being carried out. It is learnt that the party, based on a complaint from Eshwarappa, has asked Yeddyurappa to postpone the cabinet expansion proposed to be held next week. Reportedly, the CM has sought permission to induct at least two ministers, Raju Gowda and Varthur Prakash, immediately.
The newly built BJP office at Malleshwaram in the city was expected to be inaugurated by L K Advani. It is said that Advani, who is unhappy at Yeddyurappa’s functioning, has refused to attend the inaugural.
Chief Minister slaps driver on his arm
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa is known for his bad temper. This came to the fore again in public when he hit his car driver on Wednesday.
The incident happened when Yeddyurappa walked out of the party office after he was confronted by a host of legislators who questioned his ‘attitude’. He immediately barged out of the office and got into his official car. He had no patience to receive questions from the waiting journalists. He instructed his driver to start the vehicle, and even before the driver could act, Yeddyurappa hit him on his forearm.