New Delhi/Bangalore : The meeting to pick who should become the new Chief Minister of Karnataka has begun at Bangalore's Ashoka Hotel. However, the BJP now faces a unique problem - many of its state leaders believe BS Yeddyurappa should stay on as the head of the government.
In the hours before the meeting began, state ministers and MPs said it's wrong for the party to make Mr Yeddyurappa quit on the basis of a report which has indicted him for accepting kickbacks from a mining company. Party sources 12 MPs and 50 MLAs have thrown their weight behind Mr Yeddyurappa, who has said he will send his resignation letter to the Governor tomorrow. The Save Yeddyurappa campaign may fall short of a full-fledged revolt. Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leaders have travelled from Delhi to Bangalore to serve as observers as their MLAs elect the new Chief Minister. They are expected to steer MLAs towards accepting a new leader.
Mr Yeddyurappa, who lunched with the observers, has reportedly been promised that he will have a considerable say in who replaces him. Sources say he has asked for other privileges- like being made the head of the BJP in Karnataka and picking which ministers will be included in the new cabinet.
His charter of demands is emboldened by the voice of support that rang out today in Bangalore, intended for the BJP in Delhi. "Karnataka BJP MPs are of the unanimous opinion that Mr Yeddyurappa should not resign. He should have taken the opinion of all elected representatives. We appeal to the high command to reconsider," said DB Chandre Gowda, an MP from Bangalore. Minister V Somanna who met the Chief Minister at his home this morning said, "You all know he has said he will resign on 31st - but it is not the right time. Lok Sabha MPs have expressed their opinion. "
The report on mining that forced Mr Yeddyurappa to offer his resignation was prepared by Santosh Hegde, the Lokayukta or ombudsman of Karnataka. Mr Hegde finds politicians from different parties guilty of permitting or participating in illegal mining - 16,000 crores have been lost over the last few years, concludes Mr Hedge. Among the political heavyweights faulted are Janardhana and Karunakara Reddy, both ministers in the current government.
The Reddys this morning challenged Mr Hedge's report . Other BJP leaders are now joining the chorus against Mr Hegde on the grounds that it was leaked to the media before he presented it to the government earlier this week. The prescient Lokayukta had warned of this; some BJP members, he had said, would try to use the leak as an out, by suggesting that it was designed to destabilize Mr Yedduyrappa.
For the BJP, the decision to sacrifice Mr Yeddyurappa is based entirely on its plans for combat in the monsoon session of parliament which starts next week. The party hopes to ride the wave of public anger and frustration against the government for what seems like a never-ending list of scams. But targeting the UPA while keeping Mr Yeddyurappa in office would enfeeble the party's position .
The Chief Minister spent yesterday defying defy his party's advice to resign immediately. He capitulated at around 5.30 pm, after BJP leaders in Delhi publicly said twice that they were certain he would follow the party line. Shortly before My Yeddyurappa wrote to BJP president Nitin Gadkari, accepting that he would resign, the Reddys indicated that they would obey whatever the party's central leadership decided. This may have prompted Mr Yeddyurappa to accept that the game was over. Known for his superstitions, he has said that he will resign tomorrow instead of today for astrological reasons.
Contenders for next Chief Minister (See Pics)
Jagadish Shettar
He is currently the Rural Development Minister in Karnataka. Mr Shettar is not a nationally-known figure, but being a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa can work in his favour. Or it can work against him - if Yeddyurappa wants to stay the dominant Lingayat leader.
Eshwarappa
He is the Karnataka BJP president and belongs to the backward caste. Mr Eshwarappa, too, is not a nationally-known figure.
Sadananda Gowda
Former BJP state president, Mr Gowda is a non-controversial leader. He belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.
Ananth Kumar
Long considered a Yeddyurappa rival, Mr Ananth Kumar is believed to be working against him behind his back. Publicly, however, he and Yeddyurappa put on a united front. Mr Kumar is known at the national level. But he is a Brahmin so does not command a large vote bank.
VS Acharya
Former Home Minister, Mr VS Acharya is a Yeddyurappa loyalist. He has faced trouble many times in the past. Mr Acharya is a Brahmin, which may work against him.
Suresh Kumar
He is the current Law Minister and has a very clean image. As a Brahmin, he may not have a large vote bank to count on but a non-controversial image may work in his favour.
Shobha Karandlaje
She is not really in the line to succeed Yeddyurappa. And her proximity to the Karnataka Chief Minister may work against her. Ms Karandlaje belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.
In the hours before the meeting began, state ministers and MPs said it's wrong for the party to make Mr Yeddyurappa quit on the basis of a report which has indicted him for accepting kickbacks from a mining company. Party sources 12 MPs and 50 MLAs have thrown their weight behind Mr Yeddyurappa, who has said he will send his resignation letter to the Governor tomorrow. The Save Yeddyurappa campaign may fall short of a full-fledged revolt. Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leaders have travelled from Delhi to Bangalore to serve as observers as their MLAs elect the new Chief Minister. They are expected to steer MLAs towards accepting a new leader.
His charter of demands is emboldened by the voice of support that rang out today in Bangalore, intended for the BJP in Delhi. "Karnataka BJP MPs are of the unanimous opinion that Mr Yeddyurappa should not resign. He should have taken the opinion of all elected representatives. We appeal to the high command to reconsider," said DB Chandre Gowda, an MP from Bangalore. Minister V Somanna who met the Chief Minister at his home this morning said, "You all know he has said he will resign on 31st - but it is not the right time. Lok Sabha MPs have expressed their opinion. "
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The Reddys this morning challenged Mr Hedge's report . Other BJP leaders are now joining the chorus against Mr Hegde on the grounds that it was leaked to the media before he presented it to the government earlier this week. The prescient Lokayukta had warned of this; some BJP members, he had said, would try to use the leak as an out, by suggesting that it was designed to destabilize Mr Yedduyrappa.
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The Chief Minister spent yesterday defying defy his party's advice to resign immediately. He capitulated at around 5.30 pm, after BJP leaders in Delhi publicly said twice that they were certain he would follow the party line. Shortly before My Yeddyurappa wrote to BJP president Nitin Gadkari, accepting that he would resign, the Reddys indicated that they would obey whatever the party's central leadership decided. This may have prompted Mr Yeddyurappa to accept that the game was over. Known for his superstitions, he has said that he will resign tomorrow instead of today for astrological reasons.
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Jagadish Shettar
He is currently the Rural Development Minister in Karnataka. Mr Shettar is not a nationally-known figure, but being a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa can work in his favour. Or it can work against him - if Yeddyurappa wants to stay the dominant Lingayat leader.
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He is the Karnataka BJP president and belongs to the backward caste. Mr Eshwarappa, too, is not a nationally-known figure.
Sadananda Gowda
Former BJP state president, Mr Gowda is a non-controversial leader. He belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.
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Long considered a Yeddyurappa rival, Mr Ananth Kumar is believed to be working against him behind his back. Publicly, however, he and Yeddyurappa put on a united front. Mr Kumar is known at the national level. But he is a Brahmin so does not command a large vote bank.
VS Acharya
Former Home Minister, Mr VS Acharya is a Yeddyurappa loyalist. He has faced trouble many times in the past. Mr Acharya is a Brahmin, which may work against him.
Suresh Kumar
He is the current Law Minister and has a very clean image. As a Brahmin, he may not have a large vote bank to count on but a non-controversial image may work in his favour.
Shobha Karandlaje
She is not really in the line to succeed Yeddyurappa. And her proximity to the Karnataka Chief Minister may work against her. Ms Karandlaje belongs to the Vokkaliga caste.
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