Karnataka’s tumultuous politics could see a real turn up for the books if the strategy by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to promote his confidante Shobha Karandlaje as his proxy chief minister comes to fruition.
Inside reports indicate that Mr Yeddyurappa had proposed Ms Karandlaje’s name earlier, soon after he had resigned as chief minister on July 31, 2011 but had backed down in the face of the party’s cold response to the proposal.
Mr Yeddyurappa then agreed to Ms Karandlaje’s proposal to bring in her fellow Puttur colleague and political lightweight Mr Sadananda Gowda as his replacement, in the belief that he would remain a “pliable follower” who would voluntarily step down in six months. He has not.
Sources said that Mr Yeddyurappa, who plans to host a meal — it could be lunch, tea or dinner — for all the legislators on Friday, has been furiously hunting for a viable alternative to the present incumbent, who will follows his line, is acceptable to the legislators and to the BJP top brass.
In the event that the BJP high command continues to be chary about re-appointing him, he would like to push for trusted aide Ms Karandlaje, who came up through the RSS ranks as CM, while appeasing the Lingayats by recommending the name of Jagadish Shettar as deputy chief minister.
One big flaw? Mr Shettar could baulk at serving under Ms Karandlaje, who is a Gowda.