The party may induct Yeddyurappa’s supporters in the cabinet to weaken his support group.
As the January 15 deadline that former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has given to the BJP top-brass to take a call on reinstating him as the chief minister is fast approaching, the BJP is reportedly devising ways to avoid a potential political disaster.
BJP state president KS Eshwarappa and chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda held a meeting on Monday, with the development giving rise to speculation that the BJP high command may give the post of state president to Yeddyurappa. In return, Eshwarappa would be accommodated in the state cabinet.
Although Yeddyurappa’s supporters have been adamant that the former CM be reinstated, recently, large and medium industries minister Murugesh Nirani suggested Yeddyurappa could be given the position of the state president and Eshwarappa can be made deputy CM.
Monday’s meeting dwelt on various options to placate Yeddyurappa. They are said to have considered inducting some of Yeddyurappa’s supporters into the cabinet to weaken his support base. There are seven vacant berths in the cabinet.
Sadananda Gowda’s plan to expand his cabinet was put on hold after Yeddyurappa put up his demand. Now, the party leaders are thinking of using cabinet expansion to take the wind out of Yeddyurappa’s sails.
Less than a week is left for Yeddyurappa’s deadline and his supporters have already started flexing their muscles. They are even ready for a showdown with the party high command.
The party bosses are worried about sustainability of the party’s first government in the South.
Probability of a new party
The fissures developing in the Congress, too, have added to the BJP’s woes. A group of Congress MLAs is reportedly preparing the ground for the NCP in Karnataka. Congress MLA BC Patil had recently claimed that the number of disgruntled MLAs of various parties in the state, including those from the Congress, has crossed 40 and a few charismatic leaders were set to join hands with them in the coming days. This statement has made the BJP bosses jittery.
A section of BJP leaders fear that Yeddyurappa might be the one who would lead this group of disgruntled MLAs. With the BJP high command busy preparing for assembly elections in five states, efforts are on to placate Yeddyurappa to lie low at least for the next three months.
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