Even as the BJP has been caught in a flip flop over former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s return to its fold, the ongoing Winter Session of the Karnataka Assembly witnessed bonhomie between both of them.
While Yeddyurappa is testing the waters to return to his erstwhile party, the BJP without learning its mistakes from the Assembly elections is yet to take a decision on his return. But surprisingly Yeddyurappa’s walkout in the Assembly on Tuesday followed by the entire BJP has given an indication of the changing political dichotomy between them. Yeddyurappa came down heavily on the ruling Congress, a change in him aligning towards the BJP.
Speaking to mediapersons after the walkout, Yeddyurappa said, “We have made a mistake. Because of our mistake the people have elected a Congress Government even though they did not want it. We have learnt our lessons. In the coming lok Saba elections, we will reduce you (Congress) to seven to eight seats. Please have patience.”
Yeddyurappa was reacting to former Speaker and senior Congress leader KR Ramesh Kumar’s teaser on how the people have taught a lesson to the “corrupt” BJP Government.
later in the day, Yeddyurappa who dominated the House expressed dismay over the absence of Treasury Benches and accused the ruling party of lack of interest in discussing development works of the State. At this juncture, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar was speaking on Budget discussions, Yeddyurappa staged a walkout which was joined fully by the BJP members.
The BJP was quick to react on this bonhomie and said that there was nothing wrong in following Yeddyurappa. BJP spokesperson and MlA CT Ravi said, “At bad times we separated. What is wrong in uniting in good timesIJ I welcome this move to fight the Congress.”
Political observers feel looking at the ensuing lok Saba elections which is crucial for the BJP under Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Yeddyurappa-linked lingayat factor in Karnataka is going to be important for the party which has lost miserably to the Congress in the last Assembly elections.
Many political observers also feel that the coming together of Yeddyurappa’s KJP, BJP and the BSR party of Sriramulu in this session of the Assembly was an indication of a political consolidation in the State to fight Congress.
According to a senior BJP functionary, some of the leaders took a decision before the commencement of the Assembly session to garner support of Yeddyurappa and B Sriramulu to fight the Congress.
The leader also confirmed that this was informed to Yeddyurappa and Sriramulu who have given their consent to this proposal. It is learnt that the BJP is also in discussion with Sriramulu of the BSR party who left the BJP before elections.
The BJP has 40 members, KJP 6 and the BSR party has four members and the JD(S) has 40 members in the 224-member House.