By IANS
Bangalore : Former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and his elder brother H.D. Revanna have locked horns for the post of deputy chief minister in the new coalition government in the state to be led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Even as chief minister-designate B.S. Yeddyurappa of BJP readied to take oath Monday, a battle of nerves was on in the Gowda clan, with the duo’s father and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda trying to defuse the crisis.
While Gowda senior is inclined to back Revenna for the coveted post, the party legislators are backing Kumaraswamy to enable him carry on the “good work” he was doing when he was forced quit last month after an estranged BJP withdrew support to the 20-month-old ministry for not transferring power as agreed upon in February 2006.
“The leadership issue will be resolved at a meeting of the JD-S legislature party Sunday. As majority of legislators want Kumaraswamy to occupy the post, efforts are on to build a consensus for electing the JDLP leader – failing which, the high command will be authorised to take the final decision,” party spokesman Y.S. Datta told reporters here Saturday.
According to party sources, the tussle between the two brothers is compounded by their wives lobbying with Deve Gowda.
As Deve Gowda is indisposed, senior leaders, including working president Mirajuddin Patel and N. Cheluvaraswamy, could not meet him to discuss the issue Saturday.
Revanna and Kumaraswamy, however, called on their father separately to enquire about his health and seek support for their candidature.
“Deve Gowda is under pressure from Revanna to make him the legislature party leader and deputy chief minister. Since Kumaraswamy has already ‘enjoyed power’ for the first 20 months, he must make way for his elder brother and devote time in building the party,” a party leader told IANS.
Revanna was a senior cabinet minister during the last 40 months – first in the Congress-led Dharam Singh government from June 2004 to January 2006 and later in the Kumaraswamy government from February 2006 to October 2007, holding the important portfolios of power and public works.
The BJP legislators will also meet Sunday evening to formally elect Yeddyurappa as leader of the legislature party to make him the party’s first chief minister in south India.
The swearing-in ceremony will be held Monday noon.
Besides party president Rajnath Singh, vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu and party leader Sushma Swaraj, thousands of party workers and supporters are expected to witness the event.
The coalition partners have decided to form the government first with posts of only the chief minister and deputy chief minister. The ministry will be expanded after the trial of strength in the legislative assembly later this month.
“Our priority will be to focus on developmental programmes, which have come to a standstill over the last month due to the political impasse. We are confident of completing the full term (remaining 19 months) in office,” a beaming Yediyurappa told reporters at his residence.