Renukacharya's induction divides BJP further

The Vokkaliga group in the BJP was keen that the lone-vacancy in the Cabinet should go to their community. The argument was that after minister Shoba Karandlaje, a Vokkaliga, was dropped she was replaced by Jagadish Shettar, a Lingayat. So, that left the “Vokkaliga slot” empty and had to be filled by a candidate from the community. However, that was not to be.

Renukacharya (also a Lingayat), pressurised the CM to induct him into the Cabinet, after raising a banner of revolt last week. Several Vokkaliga ministers including R Ashok, B N Bache Gowda, and legislators, C T Ravi, Suresh Gowda, are said to have opposed tooth and nail the induction of Renukacharya into the Cabinet.

According to party sources, the CM may had to face a fresh bout of dissidence, this time from the Vokkaliga leaders, demanding their share of the spoils. Meanwhile, with Renukacharya’s induction, the representation in the Cabinet for Davanagere has increased to three - Ministers Karunakara Reddy and S A Ravindranath are also from the same district.

Police cases not new to controversial MLA

According to his own declaration in his election affidavit, there are nine pending cases against him in various courts. These include threatening police personnel of the Nyamati police station in December 2004 and forcibly trying to close down shops in Honnali town in August 2004.

He has also been booked for forcibly entering the Honnali taluk office and interrupting work and for abusing and injuring a person during Kuvempu centenary celebrations in Honnali town.

He had associated himself with the Bellary Reddys when they had sought a change in the leadership.  He had camped with other legislators in the Reddy faction at a resort in Hyderabad for a fortnight.

 Later he shifted his loyalty and regrouped with more than 15 legislators and seven ministers to put pressure on the chief minister to reconstitute the Cabinet.

After a marathon meeting with the chief minister and other top brass and this group on Sunday, Yeddyurappa agreed to induct Renukacharya into the Cabinet.