Bangalore:
It may have been a compromise, but it didn't allow him to save face. And now, the chief minister of Karnataka stands even more exposed, with many of his supporters switching sides. They say BS Yeddyurappa is allowing his political rivals, the powerful Reddy brothers, to walk all over him.
The latest sign that the Reddys call the shots: their man, MP Renukacharya, has been made a minister in Yeddyurappa's government. Last month, Renukacharya played a starring role in the drama directed by the Reddys, as they tried to get the chief minister sacked.
At that time, Renuakcharya shepherded close to 60 MLAs to resorts in Hyderabad and Goa. Defy us, and these MLAs will resign, threatened the Reddys, who are both ministers in Karnataka but owe their influence to their gigantic mining empire. Janardhana and Karunakara Reddy felt that Yeddyurappa's policies were hurting their business. So they organised a huge revolt.
After a very public political crisis that lasted more than a week, the BJP organised a truce. Yeddyurappa would stay in charge. And the Reddys would see more of their chosen faces in the government.
In a humiliating moment, Yeddyurappa was asked to sack one of his favourite ministers and his protégé, Shobha Karandlaje. The chief minister wept on camera. Days later, Shobha was replaced with Jagadish Shettar, the Speaker of the assembly, and a man who the Reddys favoured.
For Renukacharya's swearing-in, many senior MLAs chose to stay away. Those who did were openly contemptuous. ''So many experienced people are there. But luck? " asked a sarcastic C T Ravi.