BJP’s musical chairs: DV Sadananda Gowda out, Shettar in

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As expected, Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda handed in his resignation to BJP national president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday paving the way for a change of guard and the elevation of rural development minister Jagadish Shettar as the new chief minister — the third in four years.

The BJP top brass is hoping that this will restore peace in the faction-ridden state unit and bring governance back on track.

The exit of Gowda also means that former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has had the last laugh in the power struggle which had split the BJP into rival factions and made its government a laughing stock.

By ensuring that a fellow Lingayat community leader is installed as CM, Yeddyurappa — who gave up his dream of the CM’s post after a CBI probe was announced against him — has ensured that he will continue to be the numero uno in Karnataka politics and have his say when the party faces the 2013 Assembly polls.

Announcing the decision to replace Sadananda Gowda, Gadkari said: “In view of the current political situation, Mr Gowda has handed over his resignation to me. In his tenure, he did good work and the performance of our government was very good. There were no complaints against him on grounds of corruption but keeping the party’s interest in mind, as a good party worker, he has resigned. Our party has decided to hand over the leadership to Jagadish Shettar”.

Interestingly, when Gadkari made the announcement about Mr Gowda’s resignation, the outgoing chief minister was not by his side.

'Sadananda Gowda hid his assets’

Outgoing CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda was not honest while declaring assets owned by him and his family before the Legislative Council nomination, said an RTI activist on Sunday.

Ms Nagalakshmi alleged that Mr Gowda had purchased 7.5 guntas of gomala land in 2008 in his wife Daty’s name, but failed to declare it while filing details of his assets before the Council nomination six months ago. But Mr Gowda said the allegations were false and he had obtained documents to build the bungalow.

Where will Gowda go from here?

Where will Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda go after he steps down on Tuesday, is the question ringing loud in BJP circles.

Earlier, there were reports that the BJP high command is planning to send him to Parliament, by getting him a Rajya Sabha seat after making Ayanur Manjunath resign from the Upper House. There were also reports that he could be made a party office bearer at the national level and put in charge of a north Indian state.

The situation has changed after 50-55 MLAs supporting Gowda, started a signature campaign demanding he be made party state president so that he can lead the BJP in the next election. Mr Gowda himself lent credence to these reports by pitching for making incumbent party chief K.S. Eshwarappa the deputy chief minister.

Sources said a memorandum is likely to be submitted to senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley, when they arrive here on Tuesday to oversee the smooth transition of power. The memorandum will stress on the fact that it was Gowda who led the state BJP to power in 2008. The pro-Gowda campaign is being spearheaded by ministers Balachandra Jarakiholi, A. Narayana Swamy, C.P. Yogeshwar and Anand Asnotikar, sources said.