CM's smile will be short-lived, say party insiders

Claim that the dissidents are again gearing up to hit at him with the demand of change of leadership

The turn of events might have left Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in high spirits for the moment, as his government is safe. But there are signs that it will all be short-lived, as the dissidents are again gearing up hit him with the demand of change of leadership.


It 'looks' good: CM Yeddyurappa comes out of the hotel where he had
called a meeting to gauge support to his government. Pic/Satish Badiger

"Our present priority is to save the government and we are united solely for that purpose. Once it is out of danger and things are settled, we want to see a change in leadership. I hope the national leaders support the idea because the present leadership has dented the party image so much that we cannot convince voters in the upcoming elections," said a BJP leader.

He said L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj, among other leaders, were looking for ways and means of ousting Yeddyurappa, whose corrupt image is a liability.

Advani is even understood to have gone to the extent of accepting the suspension animation of the assembly, as the governor had recommended. He was contemplating on the idea of going to the assembly, after the suspension, under a new leader. But dropped the option after realising the danger of JD(S) luring the rebel legislators in the period of suspension, which could have resulted in reduction in numbers.

Getting wind of the developments, Yeddyurappa is prepared with a defense strategy and is using the possible cabinet expansion as a potential weapon. He will use cabinet berths to keep the legislators in the flock and delay the cabinet expansion process to every possible limit.

"The cabinet expansion will be the main alluring point and the CM will use it to make his position strong amidst the dissidence that is set to crop up again," said a source close to Yeddyurappa.

While the Reddy camp is active in consolidating the dissidence, Ananthkumar, MP from Bangalore (South), K S Eswarappa, state BJP president, Jagadish Shettar, minister for rural development and Panchayat raj, are with them.

Asked about what was brewing, Eswarappa said, "Its all rumours. We have put up a united fight under Yeddyurappa's leadership. He is our leader and will remain the same. In fact I must thank Congress and JD(S) for the situation, due to which there is unity in the party."

JD(S) Supremo Deve Gowda, who allegedly orchestrated the political coup, called a press conference to express his disappointment over the developments.

Bhardwaj wrote a letter to Yeddyurappa justifying his recommendation to keep the assembly under suspended animation.