Karnataka - In The Balance

The BJP wins the trust vote, but there are problems aplenty for new chief minister Yediyurappa

- Aravind Gowda

The curtains have come down (for now) on the political drama in Karnataka, bringing with it an end to the 14-month-old Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government. The new BJP regime—the party won the assembly trust vote on July 30 and cannot be challenged for the next six months—led by chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa (BSY) says its first priority is putting together a council of ministers with a “clean public image”.

If it happens, it will be a considerable improvement on BSY’s last term as CM (May ’08-Aug. ’11), which saw the exit of nearly half-a-dozen scam-tainted ministers, and eventually his own sacking over a mining scam. The BJP central leadership is giving him a clean slate, though, hoping Yediyurappa delivers a stable, corruption-free administration this time around.

Sources say party president Amit Shah is being consulted on all appointments. The BJP has returned to power after six years and BSY cannot afford any more missteps. The names doing the rounds include former deputy CMs K.S. Eshwarappa and R. Ashoka, leaders like Govinda Karjola, C.M. Udasi, V. Somanna, Umesh Katti, Basavaraja Bommai, J.C. Madhuswamy, Suresh Kumar, V. Sriramulu, Balachandra Jarkiholi, C.T. Ravi and Ashwath Narayan. Most of them are ex-ministers, which has caused some heartburn among the youth leaders who want more representation this time.

Other spokes in the wheel could be ex-CM Jagadish Shettar, who wants to be a minister again, and Sriramulu, who has already declared that he is a candidate for the deputy CM’s post. In the past, the BJP has had two deputy CMs, but it wants to do away with the post this time.