Is Karnataka’s representative in New Delhi, Dhananjay Kumar — a stout BSY loyalist— next in the line of fire after the CM’s political advisor B.J. Puttaswamy and his media advisor R.P. Jagadish?

Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda dropped enough hints that this was likely to happen while speaking to reporters on Thursday.

While expressing satisfaction over drought relief measures, the CM wondered why the media was not highlighting the good work done by the government. When the media sought to know what Karnataka MPs were doing in New Delhi. Mr Gowda rushed to their support saying, “They met agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar and discussed the drought situation. They also lobbied with the Centre on the Cauvery water sharing row.

Even officers are doing their bit to ease the drought.” Asked whether the state’s representative in Delhi was doing his job, Mr Gowda replied in the negative. “He is not doing anything. He has to do his job,” he said startling those present.

It may have been a casual remark by the CM, but considering the events of the past two weeks, the statement assumes significance and more so because both Puttaswamy and Jagadish were close to Yeddyurappa.

Mr Kumar had publicly embarassed the CM with his statement, made two days before the budget session that a BJP chief minister would present the budget without specifically naming Gowda.

This had led to an animated discussion with reports circulating that Sadananda Gowda may have to quit before the budget session and the Opposition making the best of the statement to claim that the Chief Minister had become ‘very weak.’

not supporting DVS, says HDK

Former chief minister and JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy has denied reports that his party is trying to help Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, a fellow Vokkaliga, retain his seat by countering the moves launched by former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa to win back his gaddi. Mr Kumaraswamy referred to Yeddyurappa’s refrain that he and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda had connived with Sadananda Gowda to keep BSY out of power.

He also took a potshot at the former CM for forgetting all about the drought hit when he and his supporters had huddled at a resort when the Assembly session was in progress. “On Wednesday, when Yeddyurappa was touring Koppal, a old woman approached him.

Her son, who was working at BSY’s farm in Shikaripur, had died under mysterious circumstances in 2001. All that Yeddyurappa did was to give the woman Rs 1,000. This shows how concerned he is about the welfare of the poor,’’ he said.

BSY politicising drought: Siddaramaiah

After porngate, it’s the severe drought in the state which is providing fodder to the Opposition Congress to put the ruling BJP on the mat. The drought has also come in handy for rival groups in the BJP led by the Chief Minister and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa to settle scores with each other.

Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah on Thursday took the battle to the BSY camp saying, “The state government declared a drought in November last and Yeddyurappa has woken up after four months.

The drought existed even when he was busy in resort politics and when he was rushing to Delhi to hold meetings with the high command. We raised the issue of drought both in the Assembly and Council during the Session. But he did not participate in the debate. Now, he is trying to politicize drought.”

Mr Siddaramaiah, who is gearing up to tour the drought-affected taluks from Friday, urged the Chief Minister and ministers to rush to drought hit taluks and take action against lax officials.

Earlier, Mr Yeddyurappa had mocked at the Chief Minister for the `inept handling of the drought’ while KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar had demanded that the CM and his Cabinet colleagues should tour the drought hit districts.

EX-CM did not get fair deal: Eshwarappa

State BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa said here on Thursday that former chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa had been meted out injustice in the past eight months due to the conspiracies of Opposition parties.

Speaking to reporters after participating in the 105th birth anniversary programme of former deputy prime minister Babu Jagjivan Ram at Ambedkar Bhavan, Mr Eshwarappa said: “Yeddyurappa provided good governance when he was CM for three and a half years. But he was not treated fairly by his opponents from the day he became CM”.

“Mr Yeddyurappa is keen on working for the welfare of the people of the state and there is nothing wrong in that. Our central leaders should take a decision soon to provide a suitable position to him”, he added.

On the former CM’s tour of drought-hit districts, Mr Eshwarappa said that he had undertaken the tour based on his experiences as chief minister and a popular leader for 40 years. “Anyone keen on doing social service can undertake a tour of drought affected areas”, he remarked.

When asked about reports that a no-confidence motion was likely to be moved against the president of the Shimoga zilla panchayat, the BJP chief said there was no truth in the reports.