CBI probe on BSY: BJP to wait and watch
With veteran Lingayat leader B.S. Yeddyurappa facing a CBI probe, the ruling BJP has decided to adopt a wait and watch approach before chalking out a strategy to minimise the impact.
Sources in the BJP said that the party may not make any fresh move until it is sure of Mr Yeddyurappa’s next move. "there is a possibility of Mr Yeddyurappa giving up his rebellious attitude and accepting whatever party central leaders tell him. If this change of attitude happens, the party can put its difference behind and allow Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda to expand the Cabinet," sources said.
On the other hand, if Mr Yeddyurappa walks out of the party, the BJP will have to come up with an entirely different strategy, said sources. "It will take us a couple of days to assess BSY’s next move. We will devise our strategy once we are sure of what he is planning," the sources explained.
Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda is likely to leave for New Delhi Sunday evening to discuss the political fallout of the verdict . Mr Eshwarappa, who is on a foreign tour, may return by then and a full fledged discussion on the party strategy will be held, sources said.
Asked if the Cabinet would be expanded now that BSY’s wings had been trimmed, sources said central leaders would take a decision only after assessing the situation in the state.
Is Shobha in talks with Cong?
The BJP faction supporting former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is in a dilemma — should they back tainted former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa or not?
More so as there were unconfirmed reports that energy minister Shobha Karandlaje had reached out to the Congress during her trip to Varanasi and Delhi to explore the prospects of Congress support to bring down the Sadananda Gowda government. The discussions were held in Noida Thursday night between a senior Congress leader and a BSY supporter, sources said.
These reports have also made senior BJP leaders, including Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister Jagadish Shettar and Home minister R. Ashok, who had joined hands with BSY recently, beat a hasty retreat. They have decided to wait for a day or two before deciding who to support.
Sources said that with the CBI tightening its noose around BSY, the former CM had opened channels of communication with Congress leaders too. Energy minister Shobha Karandlaje who was in Delhi reportedly held meeting with Congress leaders.
This has rattled the Shettar camp, which had recently started backing Yeddyurappa. “These leaders will never go against the party. They are trying to get to the truth behind the Shobha talks episode before taking a stance on the verdict,” sources said adding, “Most BJP leaders may prefer to take a cautious stance for now’.
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