JOIN USCM flexes six-pack and all fall in line
Gone were the sobs and tears of November 9, 2009 when against his will he had to drop Shobha Karandlaje from the Cabinet. On Wednesday, Karandlaje was where she belonged, next to him, a minister again.
It was the turn of his detractors to be in sackcloth and ashes. The Reddys of Bellary, on Tuesday all rage and threats as they boycotted the Cabinet meeting in retaliation to the sacking of their loyalists from the Cabinet, were a day later the picture of humility and conciliation as they sat in the front row of invitees to the ceremony to swear in the six ministers. Janardhana Reddy, who had threatened to boycott the swearing-in, even said:
“All is well” and that he would abide by the diktat of the party. If it was a bitter pill, the Reddys swallowed it well. Less than 11 months ago, they had forced Karandlaje out, and the Chief Minister had to stomach the humiliation. And now, Yeddyurappa paid them thrice over in their own coin, dropping three of their team. The Reddys could do nothing.
Virtually the whole of the State BJP leadership was there, except Lok Sabha member Ananth Kumar, C T Ravi, the government chief whip whose ministerial hopes were dashed, and of course the three sacked ministers.
State BJP President K S Eshwarappa, who had teamed up with the Chief Minister in the selections, announced that the Cabinet would be again restructured in next March to allow at least three new entrants.
Shobha Karandlaje twice touched the feet of her benefactor after the swearing-in. The five other ministers too paid similar respects to Yeddyurappa after Governor Bhardwaj administered oath of office to them. When media approached her for a comment, Shobha had a cryptic one-liner: “At last justice is done to me.”
Minister Jagadish Shettar, who too was absent at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday as he was closeted with the Reddys, was present at the Raj Bhavan.
Supporters set bus on fire
Deodurg (Raichur district), dhns: A KSRTC bus was set on fire by the supporters of K Shivanagouda Naik, dropped from the Cabinet, at Arakera village in the taluk on Wednesday.
According to the complaint lodged by the driver of Bangalore-Deodurg bus, a group of protesters forced the passengers to alight and set the vehicle on fire. Arakera is the birth place of Naik, the former library minister. Police said eight people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A local BJP leader however distanced from the incident and termed it a conspiracy to defame BJP. The supporters of Goolihatti Shekar, also dropped from the Cabinet, blocked traffic on Holalkere-Hosadurga road.
Jubilation
It was a contrasting scene at the oath-taking ceremony in Raj Bhavan at Bangalore. The slogan-raising by the supporters of newly-inducted ministers interfered with administration of oath. The chief minister had to signal at the crowd to remain calm.