Is Janata Dal (S) spokesperson, Y.S.V. Datta, the new mentor of Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda?
Acolytes of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa answer in the affirmative, and lament the fact that Mr Datta visits the residence of Mr Sadananda Gowda every morning with messages and tips provided by Janata Dal (S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda. Such proximity between Mr Sadananda Gowda and Mr Deve Gowda has added to growing differences between the Chief Minister and his predecessor Mr Yeddyurappa, according to sources close to the former chief minister.
“Who is running the government? The Congress, BJP and JD (S) are ruling the state. There is no fight between the ruling party and the opposition. Don’t you think, there is a tacit understanding between the opposition parties and the Chief Minister? An assistant of Mr Deve Gowda has been rehabilitated at the office of Dhananjay Kumar, Karnataka representative in New Delhi. What more evidence you need to prove the proximity of Mr Sadananda Gowda to Mr Deve Gowda” are the other questions posed by the sources during a chat with Deccan Chronicle.
The sources pointed out that the party’s support-base among Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Other Backward Classes would not be eroded in case Mr Yeddyurappa returned to power. “The schemes introduced by Mr Yeddyurappa for OBCs have been appreciated by them. Moreover, he never acted or behaved as a castiest leader. This is a false propaganda,” the sources added.
Similarly, the dismal performance of ministers loyal to him, including energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, agriculture minister, Umesh Katti and industries minister, Murugesh Nirani, would not matter. “The Chief Minister should fight for allocation of coal to the state. Ms Karandlaje alone can not do much to improve the power situation,” the sources added.