Will Sankranti see a new CM in Karnataka?

[1]

Some 48 hours before key council elections that will decide chief minister, D.V. Sadananda Gowda’s fate, former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has shaken party leaders by announcing in Mangalore that he was only waiting for the BJP high command’s green signal to return as chief minister.

Interacting with reporters after participating at a Vajapeya Somayaga performed at the Nandagokula Cow Shelter near Narahari Temple, Kalladka, a ‘yaga’ meant to empower, Mr Yeddyurappa said on Monday, “It seems, the time is ripe for me to become chief minister again.”

Mr Yeddyurappa has repeatedly claimed to his party and supporters that he will be cleared of all corruption charges by January 5, although it is not clear what the basis of these presumptions are.
He has reportedly also stopped party state unit president, K.S. Eshwarappa and others from completing the exercise of shortlisting cabinet probables.

Insiders said Mr Yeddyurappa had convinced the party leaders to put the exercise on hold saying that it would not help the party and the government if the exercise was carried out during the inauspicious month.

His strategy, a close adviser said however was to ensure that the first order of business is his return as chief minister after Sankranthi, rather than a Cabinet expansion where the new ministers are beholden to a new chief minister for their posts, a source said.

BSY is reported to have told Mr Gowda not to resign the Lok Sabha seat immediately after the council elections as he wants Mr Gowda to retain his seat as MP after he — BSY — returns as CM post-January 15.

With just days left for the legislative council election meanwhile, former minister turned Independent MLA B. Sreeramulu called on his mentor, Gali Janardhan Reddy at the Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad on Monday reportedly to discuss his strategy for the polls.