Dissent brews again in BJP?

Revolt is simmering in the party after Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's announcement of second cabinet reshuffle in two months, say sources

Revolt is simmering in the party after Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's announcement of second cabinet reshuffle in two months, say sources

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's announcement of another cabinet reshuffle sometime this week has stirred the hornet's nest in the party again.


Walking the Tightrope: BJP MP Ananth Kumar is also understood to be
doing everything possible to upset Yeddyurappa's apple cart. File Pic

"The CM is in a tight spot," said a source in the BJP. "He cannot postpone the expansion because he had promised ministerial posts to some MLAs to get their support just before the vote of confidence. At the same time, he knows there is a chance of disappointed legislators raising the banner of revolt again."

It may be recalled that the last cabinet reshuffle in September almost led to the toppling of the government, Sixteen legislators, including eleven BJP MLAs and five independents, joined hands with the JD(S) and withdrew support to the government. The CM had to prove his majority in the house twice and the legislators were disqualified.

There are six vacancies in the cabinet and Yeddyurappa has hinted that he will fill four. Rumblings of dissent have already started in the party with aspirants dividing themselves into various groups.

The CM had said last morning that he would give details on the expansion to the media in the evening. However, nothing happened till late night and party insiders said the expansion would come into effect only after November 3, when the state executive of the party meets in Mysore.

In the reckoning
Yeddyurappa is understood to have given his word to Varthur Prakash, an independent MLA who switched from the JD(S) camp to support the government before the vote of confidence. The Reddy brothers, however, have pitched for Surapur MLA Raju Gowda. The CM is also in favour of including N Jivraj and Sogadu Shivanna, legislators from the districts of Chikkamagalur and Tumkur respectively.

Sources say, however, that C T Ravi, another MLA from Chikkamagalur, is also lobbying strongly for a post and has already hinted on raising the banner of revolt in case he is left out. Jivraj, who is also the party's chief whip in the assembly, is not ready to give wayu00a0 either. He has already threatened to resign as the chief whip if he is denied the ministerial post.

The rival camp of H N Ananth Kumar, former union minister and MP representing Bangalore (South), is also understood to be doing everything possible to upset Yeddyurappa's apple cart.

"It is like a double-edged sword for Yeddyurappa," said the source. "Even if he manages to please some, he will surely be ruffling the feathers of others."

'It's my right'
Admitting that he was an aspirant, Jivraj said he was rightfully expecting the cabinet berth in recognition of his service to the party. Ravi was not available for comment.