No rocking the BJP boat, KSE to stay

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Mr K.S. Eshwarappa may have to juggle the posts of deputy chief minister (DCM) and BJP state president for some more time after his president’s term ends in December.

Reason: The BJP top brass does not want to risk another crisis in the party by leaving the post wide open with former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa making no secret of his desire for the post.

Sources in the party told this newspaper that the central leadership is in no hurry to appoint a BJP president before Mr Eshwarappa’s terms ends.

With assembly polls approaching, there is one more contender for the post—former CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda— who knows how crucial the role of the new president will be in determining seat distribution.

With Mr Gowda and Mr Yeddyurappa no longer on good terms and trying their best to sabotage each other’s political interests, the last thing the party wants is a tug-of-war for the party chief’s post.

And more so when polls are hardly nine months away. Mr Eshwarappa’s resignation will give Yeddyurappa the chance he has been waiting for to take on the leadership for not honouring him with the president’s post, said sources.

There are some who feel the party has not been able to find a suitable replacement for Eshwarappa. Sources in the BSY camp did not agree with this saying the party has floated two names— Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Hubli-Dharwad MP Prahlad Joshi.

However, the BJP core committee has decided not to take up the issue till the central leadership gives the green signal.

Another reason for not disturbing the status quo could be because the leadership does not want to risk a crisis after just getting over the issue of appointing a new CM.

Farm loans: BSY warns of agitation against Centre

Former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa has said that he will launch an agitation against the Central government demanding waiver of loans taken bye farmers from nationalized banks.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, he said Union ministers from the state should pressurize the Centre to release Rs 19,000 crore required for this purpose.

Asserting that he is not undertaking the tour of drought-hit areas to improve his image, BSY said Congress leaders should have conducted the tour well in advance and apprised the state government about the plight of farmers.

He suggested that the government make it mandatory for farmers of irrigated areas to cultivate fodder crops.

He also said he will pressurize the government to release compensation to farmers to tackle the scarcity of fodder.

“Karnataka is witnessing the worst drought since 1971. Farmers are in a desperate situation as water bodies have dried up and they are also facing a severe scarcity of drinking water.

I will submit my interim report to the State government on August 31 after conducting the tour of the drought-hit region and will suggest various measures to be taken up on a war-footing”, BSY said.

BSY faces complaints on poor wages, fodder scarcity

In a desperate attempt to find answers on how to tackle the severe drought, thousands of distraught farmers in Kundagol taluk jostled to meet former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday.

The farmers told the BJP strongman that they were worried over the lack of employment opportunities in their villages and the severe scarcity of fodder.

“There is an urgent need to open goshalas as we have begun to sell our cattle at throwaway prices due to the fodder problem.

We are visiting Hubli–Dharwad twin cities for jobs in the construction sector as the drought has rendered us jobless.

We are not taking up work under MGNREGS owing to the non-release of our wage dues in the last five months”, said a farmer in Yaraguppi village. S.V. Gurappavanar while pouring out his woes before the former CM.

But Mr Yeddyurappa said he could not do much to set up goshalas in villages because of the scarcity of fodder.

Instead, he offered jobs to the distressed farmers and suggested that they purchase fodder on their own with the help of the Rs 155 daily wage paid by the state government for work provided as a drought relief measure.

Kundagol MLA S.I. Chikkangoudar, who is a relative of BSY, received applause for the drought relief and lake desilting work.

“Yeddyurappa’s visit to our village will provide a temporary solution as the officials will take up drought relief measures.

But we are concerned about the gravity of the situation with the rabi crop too failing. The irregular payment of wages, has forced people to migrate to Hubli in search of jobs”, Yaraguppi GP vice president Prabhu Badidalshettar said.