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Karnataka Rebels placated while BJP loyalists raise a banner of revolt

The much-awaited expansion of the BS Yediyuurappa led state Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) government is finally taking place on this Thursday 06 February. The Chief Minister himself made this announcement to media persons on Sunday.

No doubt almost all newly elected and former disqualified Members of state Assembly(MLAs') but for Mahesh Kumatalli, Athani legislator heaved a sigh of relief following the chief minister's over delayed pronouncement.

However, MTB Nagaraj, former Minister in the HD Kumaraswamy led JDS-INC coalition government and AH Vishwanath, former state JD-S president and R Shankar, a former minister in the previous government expressed displeasure for being left out of the cabinet formation.

Both MTB Nagaraj and AH Vishwanath lost in Hoskote of Bengaluru Rural district and Hunsur constituency in Mysuru district respectively in the recently held bye-elections while R Shankar was denied the ruling party ticket to contest from Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district which he had quit in order to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Although 14 Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular party MLAs' had tendered their resignations to enable the BJP to topple the alliance parties' government, bye-elections weren't announced to Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru district and Maski constituency in Raichuru district.

In both these constituencies, the rival defeated BJP candidates have contested the election outcome of Congress legislators, Munirathna(Rajaraheshwarinagar) and Prathapgouda Patil(Maski) and the petitions are still being heard in the state high court.

BS Yediyurappa after making any number of hectic efforts to reach out to the party high command at last succeeded with enough prolonged delay to get the nod for the over delayed cabinet expansion.

Mahesh Kumatalli, who has been sore with the party decision of not being included in the cabinet has been vocal enough in his public outbursts. He retorted: If I were not intended to be included in the cabinet then how come the BJP leaders gave a go-ahead for my resignation then? Not satisfied by airing his anger in open he also went to the extent of claiming: If the party so desires I don't mind being a loyal worker sweeping the party office!

The reaction of the remaining three left out from the ministry was no better. MTB Nagaraj, AH Vishwanath, and R Shankar were categorical in expressing their unhappiness over the chief minister's move.On his part, BS Yediyurappa tried to defend his stance by citing the apex court's judgment. He reiterated: There is no way of leaving all the 17 MLAs, responsible for the formation of the BJP government in the lurch. All of them will be reciprocated for their gesture but since the Supreme Court has ruled out any positions to the disqualified legislators without being elected to either of the houses of the legislature, the process is being delayed.

AH Vishwanath shot back Yesterday in Mysuru: If I don't become a minister heavens will not fall down. But what about BS Yediyurappa's promise of making all the 17 MLAs who quit their Assembly seats to pave way for a BJP government?

However, his and MTB Nagaraj's tone and tenor appeared to have changed a lot after both of them met the CM today. They, according to party sources have been placated by being assured of ministerial berths during the coming May and June when there will be half a dozen vacancies in the Upper House.So for the time being the dissidence and disenchantment looks to have been brought under control by the chief minister himself. Interestingly Nalinkumar Kateel, the recently unanimously elected state BJP president has no role to play in the present state of party affairs!

Just like Nalinkumar Kateel started neglecting the chief minister once he became the state party president BS Yediyurappa proved no better in giving him back in the same coin.But much worse was the way BS Yediyurappa behaved during his latest New Delhi tour to seek the permission of party's national president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah to expand his cabinet.

He was neither accompanied by his ministerial colleagues or state party office bearers and instead preferred to take with him both his two sons! One of them BY Raghavendra is the ruling party's Lok Sabha MP from Shivamogga while BY Vijayendra is the state party youth wing's, General Secretary.

It looks BS Yediyurappa is least interested in learning from his previous personal blunders. During his previous second stint as the chief minister in 2008, he gained a bad name due to the activities of his family members and more so his daughters and sons-in-law.

But the past pitfalls don't seem to haunt him now going by his continued mannerism which isn't any display of matured leadership.

As if the former disqualified legislators public outcry alone wasn't enough now the BJP's loyal legislators too have joined the bandwagon of rebellion. They met at the Legislators Home today and resolved to bring their grievances to the party high command.They are upset at the reported move of the chief minister to induct CP Yogeshwar, defeated Channapatna MLA into the cabinet on Thursday and are making all efforts to scuttle the reported move.

For BS Yediyurappa it looks to be a personal commitment since CP Yogeshwar along with Dr. Ashwathnarayana, Arvind Limbavali, and others played a pivotal role in ensuring "Operation Lotus 2".

Already Lakshman Savadi, who had lost in Athani of Belagavi district has not only been made a Minister but also rewarded with the position of Deputy Chief Minister. If CP Yogeshwar is now made the Minister, then what about our fate, lament the loyal legislators.

Among such legislators include many of them who have been repeatedly elected for three, four, six and eight times. Though they have made public on what is brewing in their minds now they haven't dared to spell out on their next course of action if their woes are not being heard.But the present piquant predicament is that beyond expressing their displeasure there is nothing they can do now unless JD-S and Congress have any gameplans of poaching the ruling party MLAs, which look like a mirage now?

In that way, the BS Yediyurappa led government doesn't look to be headed for any major political crisis right now. But the same situation cannot be assured in the near future if the loyal legislators continue to be kept at a distance from the corridors of power.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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