By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Bengaluru: The first and only BJP government in South India is in tantrum as the Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa lost majority support in the Assembly. The Chief Minister has sacked six ministers who rebelled against his leadership. The ministers were among the 19 MLAs who withdrew support to the government. Governor HR Bharadwaj has asked the CM to prove his confidence by the evening of October 12 and the CM has announced he would prove his majority on October 11 itself.
The rebel MLAs have reportedly handed over to the Governor their letter withdrawing support to the 28-month old government. The Chief Minister yesterday sacked four ministers who were independent MLAs. The other two ministers were sacked today. However, no measures have yet been taken against the rebel leader Renukacharya.
The BJP government had the support of 123 members, including a nominated member and six independents, in the 225-strong Assembly. The government has lost its majority as 19 MLAs (14 from the BJP and 5 independents) withdrew their support. The MLAs who withdrew support had left for Chennai and then, were shifted to Kochi as BJP leaders began to meet them for reconciliation.
Karnataka witnessed unexpected happenings on Wednesday. Five MLAs led by ministers Narendra Swami and Anand Asnodkar, who had been in Chennai, met the Governor in the morning along with Janata Dal (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and handed over the letter of withdrawal of support of 18 MLAs. Another MLA personally met the Governor and informed him of his decision to withdraw support to the government. Soon followed an emergency cabinet meeting led by the CM in the Vidhan Sabha. The CM requested the Governor in a letter to sack four independents in the ministry. The cabinet also decided to expand the ministry taking in 6 fresh faces. The Governor asked the CM to prove his confidence in the Assembly by 5 pm on October 12. Meanwhile, the Tourism Minister T Janardhana Reddy went to Chennai and held talks with the rebels but was in vain. When the BJP leaders of Tamil Nadu also came up for reconciliation talks, the rebel MLAs were reportedly shifted to Kochi.
The recent problems arose over the discontent on the expansion of the ministry on September 22 and the land scam allegations against the CM and the IT-BT Minister Subrahmania Naidu. The rebels were angered by the removal of Goolihatti Shekhar from the ministry and the non-inclusion of Gopalakrishna Belur of the Renukacharya group. HD Kumaraswamy, Janata Dal (S) state president and former CM, also played his part in intensifying matters.
The central BJP leadership and the RSS are making all efforts to save the first and only BJP government in South India. The central leadership has entrusted senior leader and national vice-president Venkaiyah Naidu for reconciliation and talks and to set matters right. The Reddys – Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy – who had earlier rebelled against the CM are now in the front for reconciliation moves. There are also reports that the rebels may be given more seats in the ministry if they return back.
Meanwhile, other parties in the state are also busy discussing ways of forming a new government once the BJP government falls. The Congress and the Janata Dal (S) held talks on Wednesday. Talks were held at the residence of the Opposition Leader Sidharamaiya at first and then later, talks were held at a secret location between Sidharamaiya and Kumaraswamy, according to reports. The Congress also is in fear of losing its MLAs in the troublesome situations and the party has reportedly decided to take its members in the Assembly to Pune.
This is not the first time that the first and only BJP government in South India is facing rebel problems. The first problem came up in October last year which was led by the ministers from Bellary Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Sreeramulu. Around 50 MLAs were with the rebels and the CM had to sack one of his ministers Shobha Karantlaje and take in Jagdeesh Shettar to save the government.