K’taka: Govt will not fall even if God comes down,says BJP

The strategy is to get back its core party members,many of them among the rebels now,by sacrificing Independents and new entrants to the party.

Of the five rebel Independents sacked on Wednesday,four were ministers. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa sacked two more ministers today – both new entrants in the party – which takes the vacancy in the Cabinet to six. It is also learnt that three new inductees to the Cabinet — among them possibly Yeddyurappa’s close aide Shobha Karandlaje – might resign to make way for dissident core party members. That takes the vacancy tally to nine and that is all they need,party sources said.

Leaders claim two of the dissident rebels,both core BJP members – Dodannagouda Patil and S K Bellubi – have already switched back.

With these 11,the government hopes to pass the floor test on October 11 since with 103 at present,it needs at least 10 to reach the magic figure of 113 for a simple majority.

The Opposition of Congress,JDS and Independents are poised at 107.

After 19 MLAs withdrew on Wednesday,Governor H R Bharadwaj asked the government to take a floor test by October 12.

Dodannagouda Patil and S K Bellubi,sources said,are cut up with the chief minister – the main complaint being his ‘dictatorial’ nature – but did not accompany the dissident group to Mumbai in the early hours today.

The BJP’s strategy,therefore,is to divide the rebel camp by offering ministries and certainly no retribution for the act of rebellion.

As part of the effort to divide the rebel circus that has moved from Chennai to Kochi to Mumbai to Goa in the last 24 hours,Yeddyurappa showed the door to two more dissident BJP ministers on Thursday morning. These are ministers Anand Asnotikar and Balachandra Jharkiholi,and touring with the rebel group at the moment. They had joined the BJP barely two years ago from the Congress and the JDS respectively.

BJP sources said this effectively leaves only 9 MLAs still holding out,because one of them M P Renukacharya is already a minister for Excise in the government.

Among the senior members who are rumoured can go are newly inducted Yeddyurappa associates Shoba Karandlaje,V Somanna and land-scam tainted Katta Naidu.

BJP state president K S Eshwarappa said these nine would return to the party fold to fill the vacant ministerial posts.

He added: “We will not ditch our MLAs,many are calling us and saying they want to come back. We have said come back. We will give you power. They are like our prodigal children. We have full confidence they will come back.”

Party spokesperson C T Ravi said: “See our body language,it is one of confidence.” He is not a rebel but certainly an aspirant to the ministry.

The rebels,however,are holding firm on their demand that Yeddyurappa stand down if he wants them back.

The BJP president denied this demand had been made and claimed there was no question Yeddyurappa going.

An MLA in the rebel group Shivanagouda Naik,who was until recently a minister,alleged the BJP government cannot be saved due to the levels of corruption the party and its state leadership had sunk to in recent times.

Senior BJP trouble-shooter Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Bangalore in the afternoon and was scheduled to hold consultations to save the Yeddyurappa government.

The JDS,which has been instrumental in instigating the rebels to withdraw support,is insisting these men will vote against the BJPon October 11.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah said the party was watching the situation and is on the guard against parallel BJP efforts to woo away a small chunk of Congress MLAs in case it fails to herd back its own men.

Congress MLAs are holed up at a resort outside Bangalore,ostensibly for a legislature party meeting scheduled later in the day.

Siddaramaiah,when asked if the Congress will support the JDS to form a government,said it was too premature to comment.

Earlier in the day,while on a quick visit to the Rajarajeshwara Temple in neighbouring Kerala – a favourite haunt of his every time he is in trouble – Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had brimmed with confidence,saying it would not be difficult for his government to pass the floor test on October 11.