RSS cadre to replace CM?

Rashtriya Seva Sangh Pracharak Santhosh Kumar has emerged as a dark horse allegedly threatening to replace Yeddyurappa after the by-polls

Rashtriya Seva Sangh pracharak Santhosh Kumar has emerged as a dark horse allegedly threatening to replace Yeddyurappa after the by-polls

After the series of failed attempts to displace B S Yeddyurappa, his detractors seem to be edging closer and closer in an ever-tightening circle. As a surprise candidate, Santhosh, a full time RSS cadre, has emerged as a dark horse allegedly threatening to replace the CM after the by-polls.


The future? Santhosh is an engineering graduate and also the general
secretary of the BJP state unit. Pic/ Ramesh HS

Santhosh's name cropped up in a report published by MiD DAY a few months ago when the government faced a crisis. He was quoted saying, "In the next six months or so, good days will begin for the state, and the politics is going to see sweeping changes. However, I am not a contender for the chief minister post."

Although, he sought to stick to his guns even now, Santhosh was all smiles when he told MiD DAY, "Don't be so obsessed about the change of leadership. Certain changes are on the cards in the party and they are certainly not on the lines of your speculations."

The happenings
Yesterday witnessed hectic developments in the BJP, in the backdrop of worsening dissidence. While the dissidents, led by party state president K S Eswarappa and H N Ananthkumar, MP representing Bangalore (South), held meetings in the city, Yeddyurappa was busy meeting leaders in Delhi, in a bid to save his position.

Meanwhile, RSS leaders remained closeted in Keshava Krupa, the Sangh's office in the city, and sources on the inside said that the Sangh Parivar was favouring Santhosh as the support base of Yeddyurappa was crumbling and resentment grows stronger.

"Yeddyurappa's position was strong all this while since we could not figure out an alternative candidate. Now a majority of legislators are against him and in all probability, he will go this time," said a senior RSS leader.

Time to go?
"A section of the party high command, including L K Advani, and Sushma Swaraj were baying for Yeddyurappa's blood, while Gadkari shielded him. With the legislators pressing for change of leadership, his chances of staying around are slim," said a BJP leader.

Yeddyurappa tried to consolidate support of the BJP MPs in Delhi like he did last time he faced the crisis, but it did not yield much. Sources said that while Gadkari is understood to have given him signals hinting to step down, he is also said to have instructed dissident leaders to come up with a stronger case while attempting to oust Yeddyurappa.

At one point, Yeddyurappa even reportedly threatened to divide the party if he was forced to resign, but high command paid no heed. Dharmendra Pradhan, in-charge of party affairs in the state, is expected in the city tomorrow to take stock of the situation before party high command prepares for the tough step ahead.

Eswarappa is also expected to fly to Delhi with list of complaints against the CM. Although, a section of the party high command preferred to wait till the by-polls scheduled for April 9, several in the party are reportedly pressing for Yeddyurappa to be replaced even before. Sources said that many see Santhosh as the consensual candidate.

"Eswarappa, Anathkumar, and Jagadish Shettar are among the contenders, while Santhosh has emerged as the consensual candidate as he belongs to no faction. The change will occur sooner than later," said the source.

All is well
While he declined to comment on the ouster of Yeddyurappa, Eswarappa said, "Who said he will be changed. All that's happening is our MLAs are not happy with what is going in the party and they have aired their grievances and we are going to bring those to the notice of the high command. Please don't read more into it."

Putting on a brave face, Yeddyurappa said, "There is no crisis in the party as such. We have to fight the by-polls united and everyone is working towards this only."

HDK falls in line
Bowing down to his father H D Deve Gowda's pressure, JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy backed away from the by-polls from Channapatna. A lesser known farmer leader, Sim Lim Nagaraja, known for his austerity, will be the party's candidate from the constituency.

Who is Santhosh?
His full name is Santhosh Kumar Hegde. However, sources say he prefers being addressed as Santhosh, as he doesn't want to reveal that he's a Brahmin. "He is against caste politics and he didn't want people to show off that he belongs to upper caste," said a source close to him.

Forty-year-old engineering graduate, Santhosh is a full-time RSS pracharak. He's also the general secretary of the BJP state unit. Santhosh has never entered into the electoral politics, but possesses strong organisational skills. Just like Yeddyurappa and Eswarappa, even he's from Shimoga.