Reddy brothers: BJP denies rift in party
According to former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the top BJP leaders are distancing themselves from the Reddys in view of the illegal mining scams.
Aarvind Gowda
The political storm raging in the top echelons of the BJP for the past few days is likely to subside after Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that he alone was responsible for inducting the powerful Bellary Reddy brothers into his cabinet. "No leader from Delhi influenced me to induct the Reddys into the cabinet. It was my personal decision," he said after BJP leader Sushma Swaraj accused Arun Jaitley of backing the Reddys.
By owning up the mining barons, Yeddyurappa has bailed out Jaitley; scored brownie points over Reddy brothers, who are miffed with him; and consolidated his position as the undisputed leader of the party in the state. Karnataka BJP unit president K.S. Eshwarappa, too, echoed similar views. "If Reddys and Sriramulu are in the cabinet, they should thank Yeddyurappa. For, it was Yeddyurappa, who wanted them as ministers," he added. For their part, the Reddy brothers have refused to be drawn into the controversy.
So far, they have not made any official statement after Sushma's revelation. In the past, the Reddys had described Sushma as their 'Amma' (godwoman), drawing criticism from various quarters. The sudden turnaround by the senior BJP leader has put the Reddys on the mat.
According to former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the top BJP leaders are distancing themselves from the Reddys in view of the illegal mining scams. "Probably, the BJP national leaders are worried that they will be exposed by the ongoing investigation into illegal mining in Bellary. Otherwise, why should they disown Reddys?" he said. The Congress, meanwhile, has said Sushma did not want to be associated with "corruption". "Sushma is trying to convey that she does not want to be identified with corrupt leaders of the party. The BJP is a broken house," Congress leader J. Poojary remarked.
Despite the ongoing furore in the party over Sushma's remarks, it is business as usual for the BJP leaders in Karnataka, including CM Yeddyurappa and the triumvirate mining barons. None of the three brothers are on talking terms with the CM for the past three months. They have even skipped the crucial cabinet meetings and avoid Yeddyurappa at public forums and at party meetings. "As of now, an uneasy calm prevails in the Yeddyurappa and Reddy camps. But nothing can be predicted," a source pointed out. In the past three years Yeddyurappa has faced two rebellions by Reddys. However, he emerged stronger after each crisis. "Yeddyurappa now has complete control over the party. Eshwarappa and Reddys have become submissive. Only external threats can bring down his government," political analyst Dr C. Veerappa said.
BJP denies rift in party
The BJP said on Sunday that there was no rift in the party over Sushma Swaraj's statement alleging that some senior leaders were promoting the Reddy brothers. "There are no differences within the party," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman said, reiterating party chief Nitin Gadkari's stand on the matter.