BSY pitches for Shobha, but loyalists grumble

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If there’s one post that is as, if not more, powerful than that of chief minister, it’s that of the state party chief.

Little wonder that former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is reportedly trying to get his trusted lieutenant and energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, appointed as BJP state president to replace K.S. Eshwarappa, recently made a deputy CM in the Shettar ministry.

Mr Yeddyurappa is also keen on a Cabinet reshuffle as he felt several deserving MLAs — in other words, his loyalists — were denied Cabinet berths.

But in a turn up for the books, opposition to these moves comes not from rival camps but from legislators who are loyal to the former chief minister.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a source close to Mr Yeddyurappa said his move has met with stiff resistance from the rest of the camp who feel Ms Karandlaje could pose a serious threat to their growth if she gets a powerful post.

“She has been able to establish a strong network with party central leaders and the RSS. She could prove more dangerous to us than anyone else,” a source explained.

BSY’s plan for a cabinet reshuffle also met with resistance as it would give an opportunity to the rival camp to grab plum portfolios now held by his supporters.