30 May,2011 06:07 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Well, nowhere! Although CM Yeddyurappa somehow managed to complete three years in office, party high command reportedly directed him to put anniversary celebrations on hold following the beating that his image has taken in the past one year
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Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is not in a position to celebrate his government completing three years with BJP high command asking him to lay low for a while, as his corrupt image has made him a liability to the party.
The CM, who had organised gala events to mark completion of the first and second year in office, is to settle for 'Meet the Press' organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the reporters' guild today.
A source close to him informed that the high command had instructed Yeddyurappa not to go for any celebrations, owing to the recent developments in the wake of SC restoring the disqualified MLAs, and the court cases against him on charges of corruption.
Poster boy no more
"High command thinks that Yeddyurappa is no longer a poster boy of the party, but at the same time, it cannot get rid of him due to the TINA (there is no alternative) factor. Hence he has been asked to restrain himself, though he is not being displaced," said the source.
While focus is on the defensive strategy to check the opposition, which is all set to attack the government and the speaker over the SC verdict, the celebration has taken the backburner. However, party officials sought to downplay the issue saying nothing of the negative sort was happening.
"The celebrations are not cancelled. We are planning to have it after the assembly session is over," said Prakash, spokesperson the BJP.
Plot continues
The continued budget session has been called on June 2 and the finance bill is to be passed.
While, the CM is planning to have the finance bill passed, which serves as the vote of confidence for his government in the wake of 17 rebel MLAs coming back to his fold, the opposition parties the Congress and the JD(S) are hatching a plot to check him.
The CM had organised gala events to mark the completion of his first and second year in office
Although they have not finalised a strategy yet, they are faced with options including, moving a no confidence motion against the speaker, moving an adjournment motion to discuss the stretchers passed by the SC against the speaker and the CM and boycotting the session.
"As per the SC's verdict, this government has lost its validity and the speaker has lost his moral position to chair the house. We are considering all options to corner the government in the house. The strategy will be finalised during the legislators party meeting," said Siddaramiah, leader of the opposition in the assembly.
