Opinion The smiling new CM

Everybody knows that Sadananda Gowda ended up being chief minister for two reasons. First,he is a Yeddyurappa loyalist. Second,he is a political novice and is no threat (yet) to his political godfather. But quite unlike his mentor,the new CM possesses qualities that will be useful in the coming days. He has a pleasant demeanour,and a ready,toothy smile — and those who know him say that his agreeable bearing befits his name (Sadananda means “always cheerful”). Contrast that with Yeddyurappa,who constantly let fly,and whose frequent bouts of temper extended even,allegedly,to slapping staff and abusing colleagues.

Again,quite unlike Yeddyurappa,Gowda seems determined to get along with the different factions within the ruling party. The rift within Karnataka’s BJP was out in the open earlier this week,when a ballot to elect the chief minister ended up tearing the party right down the middle. In the vote,BJP MP and former union minister Ananth Kumar’s man Jagadish Shettar lost out narrowly to Gowda. Extending a friendly hand even before his swearing-in,Gowda went around personally inviting Shettar and others to the oath-taking ceremony.

Shettar and his flock,as well as the Reddy trio of Bellary,were nevertheless noticeably absent at the ceremony,but Gowda’s smile has not slipped yet. Yet their absence is an indication that infighting is sure to intensify in the coming weeks and months as the two factions openly slug it out for ministerial berths and other spoils. Amidst the chaos,the BJP at the Centre does appear to have minimal control over Yeddyurappa,who it managed to displace only to have him get his nominee elected as chief minister.

The BJP has another two years to go in Karnataka. It will take Gowda’s cheerful attitude and goodwill to subdue political instability in the party. At the same time,Gowda will have to rev up governance and development,both of which were sorely missing in Yeddyurappa’s unstable reign. All this is provided the fighting legislators do not bring the government tumbling down before any serious work can be done.

Gowda also has his work cut out for him handling the exposure,by former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde,of the extent of illegal mining in Karnataka. The Lokayukta report has torn into his mentor Yeddyurappa and his family — besides the Reddy brothers,a number of other politicians (ruling party and otherwise) and dozens of bureaucrats. Yeddyurappa has challenged the report in court,while the governor has provided sanction to initiate criminal proceedings against the former CM. Can Gowda shield his mentor,who was convincingly nailed by the Lokayukta? “I will not be a puppet chief minister,” was Gowda’s first statement after becoming chief minister. We’ll see.

Gowda is currently walking through a minefield. Every one of his actions promises an equal and opposite reaction from rebels who voted against him in the chief ministerial election. Gowda took the oath of office alone,and the first decisions before him are to do with the composition of his ministry. The Shettar faction is demanding a number of important cabinet portfolios. One wrong step and it could all explode right in Gowda’s ever-smiling face.

saritha.rai@expressindia.com