Reddys' 2009 revolt: Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu brokered peace

The BJP leadership has chosen to ignore the reported communications of the US Consulate in Chennai related to the Reddys’ revolt of 2009 and how the BJP national leadership, particularly BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Venkaiah Naidu, played peacemakers.

The leaked communication (Reference ID-09Chennai327) notes energy minister Shobha Karandlaje as former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s ‘girlfriend’ who was dropped from the cabinet in 2009 bowing to pressure from the Reddys. The cable, dated November 12, 2009, says: “While the BJP’s national leadership ensured Yeddyurappa retained his post, the Reddys got their pound of flesh, succeeding in securing the removal of both the chief minister’s girlfriend and minister for rural development, and his aide (VP Baligar), reportedly responsible for targeting the Reddys’ interests. The BJP leadership also created a ‘core committee’ of faction leaders in the state party (led by Ananth Kumar) to vet major political decisions in the state.”

BJP leaders refused to comment on the communications of the US Consulate in Chennai. “It is not an official communication and we need not react to whatever internal communication that takes place in an institution. We do not agree with the opinion expressed in the cables on various issues about what’s happening in the BJP government,” said BJP state general secretary CT Ravi.

Taking exception to the cables, BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said the party would not like to comment on the issue.

“We would not like to comment on unilateral comments by the US embassy officials whether senior or junior. BJP’s action is to be seen. The BJP is the first party that removed a chief minister (Yeddyurappa) over the issue of corruption,” said Prasad.