Karnataka: Rough ride ahead for Yeddyurappa

CAUGHT IN A WEB: Yeddyurappa is caught between RSS loyalists, the mining lobby and unreliable independents.

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Keywords: Oath, Chief Minister

Bangalore: Friday is an important day for the BJP in Karnataka for B S Yeddyurappa is all set to be sworn in as chief minister, along with 15 to 20 ministers. Yeddyurappa faces tough times, amidst pressures from the Bellary mining lobby and the independents.

The six independent MLAs — who rebelled against their parties and contested (and won) on their own — have joined the BJP.

The reward — Karnataka BJP President, Sadananda Gowda says that they will all be given a Cabinet ministry.

And the BJP is not likely to forget the men who brokered that deal with the independents either. The role played by mining baron Janardhan Reddy and his brothers in persuading the independents has now raised questions on Bellary's money-bags ruling the BJP's decision making.

However, BJP's CM-designate, Yeddyurappa is quick to brush aside these allegations saying, "No no. All our senior leaders helped in talking to independents."

But party sources make clear that at least one of the Reddy brothers — possibly the eldest, Karunakara Reddy — and the family's close confidante, Sriramulu, will certainly get Cabinet berths.

Yeddyurappa is a man caught between RSS loyalists, the mining lobby within the party and unreliable independents and to keep all of them happy all the time is his biggest challenge.

Yeddyurappa could have chosen an auspicious time to take oath based on the stars, but it is factors on the ground that will actually decide how smooth his reign will be.

In fact, Yeddyurappa is already facing some embarrassment. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has stuck notices on all his posters, stating that tax has not been paid for the hoardings.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M karunanidhi, has already made several statements on the inter-state Hogannekal water dispute — an issue the BJP would have to tackle head-on soon after taking charge.