BS Yeddyurappa uses the ministry revamp exercise to drive home the message that the party is no prisoner of the mining lobby.
Goolihatti Shekar, who was sacked as sports minister on Tuesday, had the shock of his political life on Wednesday morning as his godfather, G Janardhana Reddy, turned up at the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers in Raj Bhavan.
The previous night, Janardhana Reddy had declared that come what may, the Bellary mining lords would not allow the BJP high command to mete out injustice to their trusted lieutenants, Goolihatti and his former cabinet colleague, Shivanagouda Naik.
Goolihatti was left accusing the Reddys of betrayal and wondering as to what made them to budge from their rebellious stand.
The turnaround happened late on Tuesday evening as the Reddys were holding a meeting of rebel legislators at the residence of rural development minister, Jagadish Shettar. BJP national president Nitin Gadkari delivered an all important message to chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, asking him to go ahead and settle the score with Reddys.
“The party high command was waiting for an opportunity to get rid of the image that a national party like the BJP was dancing to the tunes of the mining lords. The cabinet reshuffle presented the best opportunity to retrieve the party from the Reddys’ grips and show to the people that the party was far more powerful than any individual,” party sources told DNA.
At a closed door meeting on Tuesday midnight, party state president KS Eshwarappa explained to Shettar and Reddy brothers the futility of continuing their revolt. According to sources, the Reddys were reminded of the troubles they were facing: a slew of legal battles, the wrath of the UPA government and the changed equations with the number of MLAs behind them not crossing the mark of 15.
The Reddys fell in line before daybreak and Janardhana Reddy participated in the swearing-in ceremony. “Times have changed. We should go according to circumstances. The party’s decision and interests are supreme,” he admitted.
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