Basavaraj Bommai's one-man cabinet has at last been expanded on the eighth day after he was sworn in as Chief Minister last Wednesday. In between the new chief minister camped in the nation's capital, initially for two days and three days in the second lap to finalize his cabinet. But in the end, what has turned out reminds one of the old wines in a new bottle! And what else; much to the grouse of his detractors in the state and Delhi BS Yediyurappa continues to have the last laugh!
Although the former chief minister succeeded in ensuring most members of the Bombay Team (Congress and Janata Dal-Secular MLAs' who resigned and joined BJP to topple the previous coalition government) continue to remain in the saddle, his all types of tricks, pressures and pulls didn't come to his rescue in enabling his second son BY Vijayendra to become a Minister.
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| image source: The Indian Express |
Pupil got results and stripping of berth: However, his masterstroke helped in dropping CP Yogeshwar from inclusion into the cabinet. The latter had been publicly, repeatedly proclaiming that he has written the examinations (of ousting BSY from CM's post) and has been awaiting the results. Yes, he got the desired results, he had been all along aspiring for. But in the bargain lost his own candidature to become a Minister again.
It was not that BSY had willingly given a berth in his ministry. In fact, he had done so much against his own and by merely adhering to the directions from the party high command. But despite becoming a Minister, he kept on hurling abuses against the CM and his son alleging meddling into the affairs of his Forest Department.
He also reiterated his accusation before the party high command and made his animosity with the state BJP leader wide open. William Shakespeare in "The Tempest" wrote: Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows". Over a period of time, the same has been rephrased into "Politics makes strange bedfellows".
On the swearing day of Basavaraj Bommai, CP Yogeshwar came and greeted the new chief minister at Raj Bhavan. But he chose to neglect BS Yediyurappa who was sitting next to the new would-be CM!
CM aspirants fail to become Ministers': Arvind Bellad, Hubballi-Dharwad West constituency MLA in Dharwad district may not be remembering how many times he flew to New Delhi every now and then in the past year to nurture his fond dream of becoming a CM. Likewise, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Vijayapura MLA was professing day in and day out about a CD pertaining to BSY and not worthwhile watching with bare eyes. Later, he also saw BSY's conspiracy in himself being deprived of the coveted post. Interestingly, both of them, forget becoming a chief minister couldn't even make it to the cabinet!
Meanwhile, supporters of a handful of aspirants raising the ire protested in public. A Swamiji of Golla community based out of Chitradurga warned wiping out the party in the district. Poornima Sreenivas, first-time Hiriyuru MLA was announced as the womens' representative. However, at the last minute, former minister Shashikala Jolle, tainted in the egg scam sprang a surprise by returning to the cabinet!
GH Ashwathreddy, five times Chitradurga MLA squarely blamed the ministry as a Lingayat, Vokkaliga and Kuruba communities cabinet not bothering to seniority. Nehru Olekar, Haveri MLA's supporters have threatened to observe the Haveri district bandh. Basavaraj Bommai represents the Shiggavi constituency from the same district. MP Renukacharya, a close confidant of BSY is also sore for not being considered. So is Balachandra Jarkiholi, brother of Ramesh Jarkiholi compelled to exit on the sex CD case. Anand Mamani, Deputy Speaker of the assembly has hinted at quitting the current position if not made a Minister. The list goes on and forth making it endless. It looks Basavaraj Bommai is now embroiled with a new challenge of pulling down the storm after struggling to form a cabinet of his own for public consumption.
-Manohar Yadavatti
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