I will present the budget, says DVS

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday said that he would continue as the chief minister and would present the State budget on March 21.

“I am hundred per cent confident that I will continue as the chief minister. I do not want to respond to any rumours or speculations,” he told Deccan Herald.

Gowda’s statements are in response to speculations rife in the political circles in Bangalore that he may not present the budget. Sources close to Gowda stated the situation was dicey and nothing could be predicted.

However, till March 18, the day of the polling for the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha by-poll, there will be no changes, they added.

Fuelling speculation

At a press conference in Bangalore, senior BJP leader Dhananjay Kumar spoke in riddles on who would present the State budget adding fuel to speculations on the future of the Sadananda Gowda government.

“All I can say is that a BJP chief minister will present the State budget,” replied Kumar to queries from mediapersons.

He did not specify whether it would be Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. “Gowda is our chief minister today. I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow,” he said.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar had spoken on similar lines during a recent press interaction in Bangalore.

However, the Gowda camp rubbished these as rumours spread by Yeddyurappa loyalists to confuse the voters of the Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency and to create a backlash against the BJP candidate. Yeddyurappa just wants to keep his flock together and is exploring all possibilities, a legislator in the anti-Yeddyurappa faction of the BJP said.

On the other hand, Yeddyurappa’s camp insists that the party’s Central leadership has given green signal for a change - either in the leadership or in appointment of a minister loyal to Yeddyurappa as the finance minister, who would present the budget. Shettar may become the choice of Yeddyurappa, it is said.

But, a member of the Yeddyurappa camp said there would be no changes before the budget session or during the session.

As long as the Central leadership wants Gowda as the chief minister, he will continue. There are no indications about effecting any drastic changes, the member said.

BSY arrives in City

On his arrival in Bangalore on Thursday night from Rajasthan, where he visited some temples, Yeddyurappa made a cryptic remark that “the chief minister will present the budget” but did not name Sadananda Gowda.

Yeddyurappa said he did not meet any Central leaders in New Delhi.