Fissures in the BJP ranks were all too evident as Gowda was sworn in as Karnataka CM. Shettar & Co boycotted swearing-in ceremony, plan to seek BJP central leaders’ help to prevent BSY from netting plum portfolios.
Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda was sworn in as the 20th chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday afternoon amid deepening fissures between the two BJP groups led by his mentor, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, and former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar.
Most of the 55 MLAs of the Shettar group boycotted the swearing-in ceremony.
Gowda got a preview of the tough task ahead of him on his very first day at the helm with the Shettar group accusing Yeddyurappa of trying to grab the plum portfolios in the ministry for his own loyalists.
To stall Yeddyurappa’s efforts, Shettar not only decided to stay away from the ceremony but also conveyed that he would not accept the Deputy Chief Minister’s post if offered.
However, state BJP president KS Eshwarappa and party national general secretary Ananth Kumar, who were supporting Shettar, attended the swearing-in ceremony even as Yeddyurappa along with his strong supporters Basavaraj Bommai, Shobha Karandlaje, Renukacharya, Murugesh Nirani and others hogged the limelight.
Shettar, along with his senior colleagues, R Ashoka, the Reddy brothers and Balachandra Jharkiholi, held a series of meetings to decide on strategies to checkmate Yeddyurappa group in the new government.
According to sources, Shettar is likely to head to Delhi on Friday to meet BJP national leaders to sabotage Yeddyurappa’s efforts at grabbing plum portfolios for his supporters. He is expected to demand a fair share for his own supporters in the ministry.
Shettar expressed his displeasure at the conduct of some of Yeddyurappa camp followers who had reportedly even threatened his supporters of dire consequences if they failed to support Sadananda Gowda for the chief minister’s post. “I will complain to the high command against party MP Suresh Angadi and others in this regard,” Shettar said. Shankaralinge Gowda, a member of Shettar’s group, made an open demand that home and finance portfolios should be allocated to the Shettar group.
The continued dissidence prevented at least five ministers from being sworn-in along with Gowda, who later drove to Vidhana Soudha to formally take charge at chief minister’s office after performing a special puja.
Cabinet expansion in 3—4 days
Addressing the media after the swearing-in ceremony, the new chief minister said he would expand his ministry in 3 or 4 days after holding discussions with BJP national leaders and senior state leaders. “I will expand the ministry to the satisfaction of all in the party. There will be no confrontation and I will resolve the differences with love,” he said. Gowda expressed the confidence of completing his term.
‘I will not be a puppet of BSY’
Replying to a barrage of questions from reporters about the possibility of Yeddyurappa indulging in backseat driving, Gowda said, “Wait and watch. Time will allay your fears of me becoming a puppet in the hands of Yeddyurappa. Just wait for a month. You will get the answer to your questions.”
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