CM post to Bommai: BJP senior leaders upset with party decision
Bengaluru: It’s like Kabhigum and Kabikush feel for BJP leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Rajbhavan here on Wednesday.
Veteran BJP leader K.S.Eshwarappa wished Mr. Bommai all success, but his body language shows that he is upset with the decision of the party central leadership choosing a non-RSS background leader for the CM post and ignoring the seniority in the party.
Meanwhile, pontiffs of backward classes mutt have come to his house, demanded for deputy Chief Minister post for him. Mr. Eshwarappa said that he would communicate their demand before the party's central leadership.
When asked a question on whether Mr. Bommai would be a ‘shadow CM’ of Mr. Yediyurappa, Mr. Eshwarappa refused to comment on the issue. But he is visibly upset with the development in the party.
Another veteran leader Jagadish Shettar also reportedly upset with decision of party central leadership for picking junior leader and non- RSS background for CM post.
Sources also confirmed that, party central leadership is not keen to induct Mr. Shettar and Eshwarappa in Bommai cabinet and will induct young faces in the cabinet.
Like many leaders, C.T.Ravi, R. Ashok, Aravind Bellad, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and Murugesh Nirani, all aspirants for CM post are upset with party central leadership decisions choosing ‘outsider’ for CM post.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ashok has said that he is pleased to see Mr. Basavaraj Bommai in the CM post. “Bommai and me had worked together for the party, it’s like me to become Chief Minister after he become the CM”, Mr. Ashok said.
Mr. Ashok said he is the strong contender for the CM post, however, he said that party high command will take a final call in this regard.
Read: Basavaraj Bommai takes oath as Karnataka Chief Minister, PM Modi congratulates
Another rebel leader of BJP, Basanagouda Patil, expressed happiness for Bommai to become the CM. Mr. Yatnal ruled out the apprehension that Mr. Bommai will become the shadow cm. “ I know Mr. Bommai very well; he is very talented and a good politician, I don’t think so he became shadow cm”, Mr. Yatnal said.
Another rebel MLA and former minister C.P.Yogishwar was not happy with the party decision, he has under apprehension that Mr. Bommai would become shadow cm of Yediyurappa.
“If party central leadership wishes, I will become the minister in Bommai cabinet. Otherwise, I will continue as MLA. I will not make lobbying for ministers’ post”, he said.
Meanwhile, BJP National general secretary C.T. Ravi said that those who did good works in the previous government need not to worry about their reentry into the cabinet. In BJP, there is no insiders and outsiders, all are insiders only, he remarked.
Read: Bommai confident to overcome challenges
However, 'Bombay friends' have not ready to leave Mr. Bommai. They are following Mr. Bommai since Tuesday evening, soon after he was nominated to the CM post.
Former ministers, Dr. K.Sudhakar, Byrathi Basavaraj, B.C. Patil, Shivaram Hebbar, and M.T.B. Nagaraj following newly elected chief minister. Interestingly not many BJP MLAs have seen with Mr. Bommai, however, migrants leaders who became ministers in BSY cabinet, keenly following Mr. Bommai since Tuesday. They are under the apprehension that in the new cabinet, they will be dropped. Among 17 migrants MLAs, the party has intended to accommodate only 3 to 4 MLAs in the Bommai cabinet.
