29 July,2011 07:27 AM IST | | Sheetal Sukhija
After BJP high command issued clear instructions to tainted Chief Minister to send in his resignation, political analysts are working out the pros and cons of what will happen thereafter
With developments taking an expected turn after the Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hedge submitted his final report on illegal mining in the state, the city woke up to an announcement, which some would have been waiting for with bated breath.
Between anvil and hammer? The BJP image seems to have taken
a beating with the CM's name appearing in the report, albeit not
directly. Pic/Satish Badiger
The BJP high command issued clear instructions to tainted Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, to send in his resignation and it appears that BJP was in total damage control mode all day long. Meanwhile, political analysts busied themselves discussing how his much-awaited downfall will now affect various industries and sectors across the state.
Divide and rule
A major question political analysts have to answer is what the BJP's strategy would be from now on. Senior Political Analyst Sandeep Shastri explained, "The future course of politics in the state depends completely on who dons the mantle from here on. If the person chosen is broadly a part of Yeddyurappa's camp, then it would be smooth sailing for him. The quantum of change that would be witnessed would depend on the existing leader's choice of his successor."
But with many transfers due, would the changes be evident and immediate? "Ironically, I would not be surprised if there are very few changes or transfers immediately. Those who have been indicted would not stand a chance to be part of the governance, but whoever is appointed as the new CM would first change the bureaucracy," said Shastri.
'BJP to go strong'
Meanwhile, even though the BJP seem to have suffered image damage with the CM's name appearing in the report, albeit not directly, many analysts believed that the party's supremacy in the state would not be affected.
"BJP does not suffer serious danger of a crisis at the moment since they have struck the iron when it was hot. They want to go against Congress at the centre and through the move of removing BSY, they have got two birds with one stone," explained Shastri.
Political calculation
Analysts believed that Yeddyurappa's reaction to all this holds the key to who would be chosen as the next chief minister. "If he chooses to create a political stink before leaving, then the party would like to prop up someone from his own community (Lingayat) like Jagadish Shettar. But if he accepts to go gracefully to support the party, then Higher Education Minister V S Acharya stands a chance."
Meanwhile, close to Yeddyurappa's residence, the Reddy brothers are huddled up in a meeting at the Seven Minister's Quarters. The brother trio along with their supporters discussed the course of action and it is left to be seen where it takes them.
Lokayukta office in celebratory mood
The entire Lokayukta office was in a celebratory mood with the successful drafting of the Mining Report that sent rippling shockwaves across Karnataka politics. Even as senior BJP officials set out to reach the city, the Lokayukta office felicitated Justice Santosh Hedge for having completed a successful term. Meanwhile, the M S Building, where the Lokayukta office is based, was thronged by people appreciating the efforts of the team for bring down corrupt people in power.
Yeddy's downfall diary
10 am: Arrives at BIAL from Delhi
11 am: Reaches his residence at Race Course Road
11.15 am: Calls office to cancel cabinet meeting, scheduled for 3.30 pm and Janta Darshan, reschedules for 4 pm
11.30 am: Briefly appears and addresses media
12 pm: Meets close aides from the party
12.30 pm: Around 32 legislators and 8 ministers reach his residence
2 pm: Concludes meeting with legislators and ministers
2.30 pm: Dharamendra Pradhan, General Secretary, BJP visits residence to discuss his resignation and peaceful exit
4.30 pm: Senior BJP Leader Venkaiah Naidu visits to hold a meeting
7 pm: Sadananda Gowda, Senior BJP leader and frontrunner for the CM's post reaches Yeddyurappa's residence to discuss future course of action
