Shettar boycotts Gowda's coronation

The animosity between the groups led by former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar within BJP erupted again on Thursday as most of the 55 MLAs of the Shettar group boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of DV Sadananda Gowda as the chief minister.

Gowda had the taste of tough task ahead on his very first day at the helm with Shettar group accusing Yeddyurappa of trying to ensure all the plum portfolios in the ministry for his own loyalists.

Determined to prevent Yeddyurappa from having his way in ministry formation, Shettar not only decided to stay away from the ceremony, but even conveyed that he would not accept even the deputy chief minister’s post if offered.

Except party state president KS Eshwarappa and party national general secretary Ananth Kumar, most of the MLAs from Shettar’s group stayed away from the swearing in ceremony, while Yeddyurappa along with his strong supporters Basavaraj Bommai, Shobha Karandlaje, Renukacharya, Murugesh Nirani and others hogged the limelight. Sadananda Gowda touched Yeddyurappa’s feet seeking his blessings immediately after taking the oath of office as the chief minister.

Shettar along with his senior colleagues R Ashok, the Reddy brothers and Balachandra Jharkiholi held a series of meetings to chalk out his future strategies to check-mate Yeddyurappa group in the new government. According to sources, Shettar is likely to head to Delhi on Friday to meet BJP national leaders demanding them not to allow Yeddy group walk away with all the plum portfolios.