Bangalore:
Will Karnataka have a new BJP chief minister soon? The state was the first in South India to have a BJP government but it has not been smooth sailing. Current chief minister, Sadananda Gowda, held a press meet today - he was hoping to use it to list the achievements of four years of BJP rule. But all the media wanted to know was how long he would survive as the chief minister.
The loyalists of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa are insisting on a change of guard. They have been demanding a legislature party meeting - which has not happened - and the oust-Sadananda Gowda movement has once again gathered momentum. Ardent Yeddyurappa loyalist and MLA BP Harish insisted that a change in leadership was essential despite the fact that it was the ashada month, traditionally considered as inauspicious. He told reporters that Jagadish Shettar, a Lingayat like Mr Yeddyurappa, should be appointed as the chief minister in Mr Gowda's place. And he also indicated that Mr Yeddyurappa had the support of 70 MLAs - this was also the number of MLAs who supported Mr Yeddyurappa, his group claimed, when he herded them all to a resort outside Bangalore some months ago to put pressure on the high command to reinstate him.
Sadananda Gowda was ironically Mr Yeddyurappa's own choice to replace him when he was forced to step down following charges of corruption. But Mr Gowda did not perhaps turn out to be as pliable as Mr Yeddyurappa had hoped - and the former chief minister has been openly critical of his successor, even if he chooses to be more circumspect now - telling reporters that he would not talk to the press for another month.
The man on the hot seat is still putting up a brave front. Mr Gowda claims he will complete his term and last the 11 months until the next state elections are due.
With the opposition less than powerful in the state, if the ruling BJP in Karnataka is in trouble, it really will have only itself to blame.
The loyalists of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa are insisting on a change of guard. They have been demanding a legislature party meeting - which has not happened - and the oust-Sadananda Gowda movement has once again gathered momentum. Ardent Yeddyurappa loyalist and MLA BP Harish insisted that a change in leadership was essential despite the fact that it was the ashada month, traditionally considered as inauspicious. He told reporters that Jagadish Shettar, a Lingayat like Mr Yeddyurappa, should be appointed as the chief minister in Mr Gowda's place. And he also indicated that Mr Yeddyurappa had the support of 70 MLAs - this was also the number of MLAs who supported Mr Yeddyurappa, his group claimed, when he herded them all to a resort outside Bangalore some months ago to put pressure on the high command to reinstate him.
Sadananda Gowda was ironically Mr Yeddyurappa's own choice to replace him when he was forced to step down following charges of corruption. But Mr Gowda did not perhaps turn out to be as pliable as Mr Yeddyurappa had hoped - and the former chief minister has been openly critical of his successor, even if he chooses to be more circumspect now - telling reporters that he would not talk to the press for another month.
The man on the hot seat is still putting up a brave front. Mr Gowda claims he will complete his term and last the 11 months until the next state elections are due.
With the opposition less than powerful in the state, if the ruling BJP in Karnataka is in trouble, it really will have only itself to blame.
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