Suicide, resignation threats over reshuffle
Posted by
Sudhanshu Batra
on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Labels:
Politics
When the first BJP government stepped into power below the Vindhyas, the saffron brigade promised to be a party and a government with a difference. Two years down the line, a bit tipsy with power that has gone into its head, the government has proved that it is indeed different, though in a dubious way, and that it is also a set up with sharp differences.
On Monday, the government led by B S Yeddyurappa nose- dived into another crisis with one minister threatening to commit suicide and another warning of mass resignations if they were dropped. The trigger factor: a cabinet reshuffle on September 22.
As edyurappa and state unit president of the BJP K S Eshwarappa met party president Nitin Gadkari and other central leaders in Delhi with a list of ministers to be dropped and fresh faces to be inducted, Bangalore was in a tailspin with Sports and outh Services minister Goolihatti Shekar threatening to commit suicide.
" Suicide is not ruled out if I am dropped. I had been promised that I will remain in the cabinet for the full term of five years. If the BJP does not keep its word, then let its flag fly over my body," Shekar told reporters as speculation mounted that he is one of the three or four ministers to be dropped.
Shekar is one of the five Independents who were rewarded with a ministry for helping the BJP form its first government in Karnataka as well as south India in May 2008 when the party fell short of majority in the 225- member ( including one nominated) assembly.
Shekar's colleague, Minister for Public Libraries and Mass Education K Shivangouda Naik, threatened to quit the party if he was axed in the reshuffle.
There was more drama. Legislator Belur Gopalakrishna, aspiring for a cabinet berth, warned: " Around 20 BJP legislators will quit the party if I am not made minister." Tourism Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, who played a major role in winning over the five Independents, added more spice to the drama. He said in Bellary that there was no question of dropping any of them from the ministry.
" They helped the party when in need. I have discussed the matter with party president Nitin Gadkari.
They will not be dropped," asserted Reddy, who almost brought the eddyurappa ministry down in October- November last year.
Party sources said that the final list will be slightly delayed in view of the latest developements. However, Eshwarappa played down the threats of suicide and resignations.
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