Supporters of sacked ministers pour out angst

Hundreds of supporters of ministers dropped from the Cabinet during the day alleged that Yeddyurappa had failed to keep his promises to their leaders and he was no different from leaders of the JD(S), who jettisoned the BJP in 2007.

Supporters of Goolihatti Shekhar, an independent MLA from Hosadurga, gathered in huge numbers in front of the Chief Minister’s residence on Race Course Road. Some others assembled in Kanteerava Stadium to stage a protest.  They termed Yeddyurappa’s decision to drop their leader from the Cabinet was a breach of trust.

The BJP came to power because of Shekhar, who was the first among independent MLAs to announce support for the BJP. The protesters also met Revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, who was instrumental in bringing Shekhar into the party fold. Reddy also supported the protesters.

Shekhar had threatened to commit suicide if he was dropped from the Cabinet. He did no such thing on Monday. One of his supporters, however, reportedly attempted suicide by consuming an unidentified substance. Shivanagouda Nayak, yet another minister who was dropped, was severely critical of the Chief Minister. Nayak, who defected to the BJP after resigning as JD(S) MLA, said the Chief Minister had not kept his promise to retain him as minister for five years.

CM’s car besieged

Supporters of Aravind Limbavali arrived at the Race Course Road residence of the Chief Minister.  They wanted to know from Yeddyurappa and BJP state president K S Eshwarappa why Limbavali was dropped from the Cabinet.

A few supporters surrounded the Chief Minister’s car as he was leaving for Vidhana Soudha to attend the Cabinet meeting. Police had tough time in clearing the way for him.
Supporters of Malur MLA Krishnaiah Setty, who resigned as minister to accommodate V Somanna in the Cabinet, gathered in front of Yeddyurappa’s residence demanding re-entry of Setty into the Cabinet.

Sixty buses had been arranged to ferry them to Bangalore, much akin to Setty’s penchant of arranging buses for people to visit Tirupati.

Flops flip

Neither me, nor any of my friends in the BJP will resign. Yeddyurappa is our leader. I am a true BJP man.

(Gopalakrishna, on Monday, threatened that he and 19 other MLAs will resign on Tuesday).

Belur Gopalakrishna,
BJP MLA

I will not commit suicide. People of my constituency advised me against this. I was asked to resign, but I refused. I wish God does good to Yeddyurappa and he continues as CM for the next 20 years.

(Shekhar, on Monday, had threatened to commit suicide if dropped from the cabinet).

Goolihatti Shekhar,
Ex-minister