State News And Discussion - 3

[ramana]

Pioneer reports the crisis is over.

Crisis blows over for BJP in K’taka

October 08, 2010 2:19:35 AM



Kumar Uttam/Kestur Vasuki/ PTI | New Delhi/Bangalore



Rebels’ leader proclaims BSY as their CM



The ruling BJP’s carrot-and-stick policy seems to have won over the 19 MLAs whose revolt had reduced the BS Yeddyurappa Government in Karnataka to a minority. The Minister spearheading the dissident campaign late on Thursday proclaimed Yeddyurappa as the rebels’ leader.



Amid efforts to reach out to rebels by offering them some ministerial berths and the BJP central leadership threatening them with notice under the anti-defection law, dissident Excise Minister MP Renukacharya said the Government was stable ahead of next week’s trust vote.



“Yeddyurappa is our leader. The Government is stable. There is no threat to it. We are going back to Bangalore on Friday,” Renukacharya told Kannada TV channels from a posh Goa resort, where he and around 14 dissidents are camping. 8)



Shortly after Renukacharya’s comments, Yeddyurappa told newspersons in Bangalore, “I hope by Friday evening, all the MLAs (who are outside now) will return and join our fold. I am very confident of winning the vote of confidence. I am 100 per cent sure that my MLAs will support me.”



Earlier, the BJP’s leadership went all out to save its Government in Karnataka, with its top guns holding talks with the rebels and the party threatening to disqualify the dissident legislators. While at least four rebel MLAs have already reconciled during the last two days, Yeddyurappa dropped two more Ministers on Thursday.



The BJP’s central leaders were keeping a close watch on the Karnataka developments. They felt that getting the rebels disqualified before the trust vote could be the only option left to them for saving the Yeddyurappa Government if rebels continued to be defiant. “The rebel MLAs should remember that they have won the election on the party symbol and can invite disqualification. We are hopeful that the State Government will survive the crisis,” BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said.



In neighbouring Goa, the situation took an ugly turn when former CM Manohar Parrikar, along with dozens of supporters, barged into the resort and spoke to the rebels. Though he was initially not allowed in by the security, he finally had his way. Janardhan Reddy, who leads the anti-Yeddyurappa brigade but is now playing the saviour, also met the rebels in Goa.



Senior BJP leaders M Venkaiah Naidu and HN Ananth Kumar were also engaged in the negotiations. The exercise has shown initial results with the return of two more rebel MLAs — Raju Gowda and SK Bellubi. Bellubi was likely to be made a Minister along with dissident MLAs Beluru Gopalakrishna and HS Shankaralinge Gowda.



Ministers S Suresh Kumar, VS Acharya and B Sriramulu offered to quit, if required, to make room for them.



Sources said IT and Housing Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, facing allegations of corruption, was likely to be dropped. Sugar and Horticulture Minister SA Ravindranatha and Mass Education Minister Revu Naik were also likely to be asked to quit.



Yeddyurappa, back in Bangalore after visiting the famous Rajarajeswara temple at Taliparamba in Kerala, was confident that his Government would comfortably sail through the acid test on October 11. He said, “I have God with me…all my MLAs and party leaders are with me. I am 100 per cent sure I will sail through.”



While he continued wooing a section of the rebels, he also forwarded to Governor HR Bhardwaj the resignations of two more Ministers, Balachandra Jarkiholi and Anand Asnotikar, which were immediately accepted. Jarkiholi was Minister for Municipalities and Local Bodies and Asnotikar Minister for Fisheries and Science & Technology. Both were in the forefront of the rebel camp.



Yeddyurappa had on Wednesday dropped four Ministers — Shivaraja Thangadagi, Venkataramanappa, PM Narendraswamy and D Sudhakar — after they revolted. Eighteen MLAs, including these six Ministers, had announced withdrawal of support to the Government. At least five rebels were staying in a posh Goa hotel, arranged for by a Congress Minister. The BJP has dispatched Janardhan Reddy to Goa to talk to these MLAs.



Reddy blamed JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah for the crisis. “We have clear majority,” Reddy said, adding that the Opposition leaders would have to “hang their heads in shame” after the trust vote.



State BJP president KS Eshwarappa said in Bangalore, “There is no dissident activity. Some MLAs are dissatisfied; they nurse hopes of getting posts and positions.” He added, “As a family, the BJP will resolve the issues amicably.”



The Congress blamed the Chief Minister for the crisis. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president RV Deshpande said the Congress had no intention of bringing down the BJP Government and that the Congress high command would take appropriate steps in case of any eventuality.

And Politicsparty confirms that INC and JD have self destructed in Karnataka with their failed coup/regime change plan. And gives the background of how the above report came about.



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