In a deft move, BSY gets his men into the core committee and puts his rivals on the backfoot.
Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is smiling at the political events over the past couple of days; it goes without saying that his arch-rivals, the Reddy brothers, are sulking.
In a deft move, Yeddyurappa managed to pack the co-ordination committee with his men, including Basavaraj Bommai, who is the prime target of Jagadish Shettar and the Reddy brothers, Karunakara and Janardhana.
Displeasure and disappointment were writ all over the Reddy camp, as they desperately tried to delay the first meeting of the co-ordination committee on Wednesday by nearly an hour. The chief minister was in fact thinking of including PWD minister CM Udasi, another bugbear of the rebels, but Udasi lost out as he did not openly support Yeddyurappa, and Bommai ended making it to the panel.
By inducting a majority of his supporters into the core committee, the chief minister has at least for the time being, ensured their safe continuation in the ministry, until the rebels touch off another upheaval.
Even though the bickering in the state BJP had not subsided despite claims by senior leaders, the Reddy group found themselves on their back-foot as the high command made it clear that it was in no mood to go along with them any more, and also because of developments in Andhra Pradesh.
This was evident when they were told in clear terms that the core committee was set up according to their demand and the high command’s decision was the final on its composition. They were also told that there was no question of dropping or re-inducting any one. Party president DV Sadananda Gowda said as much on Wednesday.
The Reddy brothers have been unable to play out the Act II of their rebellion as they have been pushed to the wall and there have been setbacks galore for them. The timing of the Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah’s action in clearing a CBI probe into Reddys’ company is more than a coincidence.
The BJP high command seems to have realised the extent of public opinion that the Reddy brothers and their MLAs are ranged against due to their untimely revolt.
The intervention and backing Yeddyurappa received from the RSS also forced the high command, including Sushma Swaraj, to tell the Reddys that enough is enough.
With the CBI probe breathing down their neck, Janardhana Reddy now has to play the game with utmost caution. Besides, the demand for his ouster from the ministry from the opposition is getting shriller.
With elections to the 198 wards of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and 25 MLC seats from the local bodies round the corner, the party higher-ups have decided to back Yeddyurappa rather than the Reddy brothers at this stage.
The high command has also given out a clear warning to the rebels not to air their grievances in public, instead raise the issues in the party forum. This is a clear indication that Yeddyurappa is in full control.
The indications are that Yeddyurappa will have a free hand till the budget session of the state.
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