Bangalore: It was contemplated for the last one week that former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa would continue to have a say in the functioning of the new government. After the Cabinet formation on Monday it became evident that it is Yeddyurappa who is calling shots both in the government and in the BJP.
For the third time in the last fortnight, the former CM has demonstrated that he is high command unto himself; Firstly, he resigned on a day and time he wanted to, much to the chagrin of the party, and secondly, he ensured that his man succeeded him and finally he defeated the efforts of his rival camp to have a say in the Cabinet composition.
In the milieu, Yeddyurappa got his arch rival, party general secretary HN Aanath Kumar, completely sidelined, besides preventing a fellow Lingayat, Jagadish Shettar, from becoming the deputy CM in the new dispensation, which could have paved way for two power centres. By doing this, the former CM has again proved that he would be the fulcrum of the government and the party in Karnataka.
While Yeddyurappa is growing from strength to strength after resigning, his rival camp was forced to climb down from their original demand to have two deputy CMs, besides having 20 key Cabinet portfolios to just get into the Cabinet after the party high command asked Shettar and his supporters to fall in line.
On the other hand, a sulking Shettar and Ashok, who nursed the ambitions to become deputy CM, said they were happy to "toe the party line and are not keen on any portfolio".
With 12 of the 21 new Cabinet members belonging to his group, Yeddyurappa had also a say in ensuring that key portfolios like revenue and finance are with his group. "For sure, Yeddyurappa will have his nominee as the next finance minister as he doesn't want to give it to Shettar or anyone from the rival group," a member in the new Cabinet told Express.
Now that he has installed his man at the helm, has a majority of ministers in the Cabinet from his side, and probably even in allotment of portfolios too, Yeddyurappa is just a step away from gaining complete control over the BJP by dislodging his fellow Shimoga leader KS Eswahrappa in the coming days.
"That may not happen anytime soon as he needs to wriggle out of several law suits against him," an aide of the former CM said, while not ruling that possibility in the months to come.
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