High command should move cautiously

If politics is the art of possibilities, BJP's B. S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka's besieged Chief Minister, has mastered this art. Otherwise, he would not have survived in office despite the slings and arrows of administrative indiscretion, political favouritism and worse, nepotism fired at him by the Opposition parties — Congress (I) and the JD (S); the latter more aggressive than the Congress, may be for the reason that Congress too has more skeletons in its cupboards than the BJP, the first - time ruler of Karnataka.

In the beginning of BJP rule, it was accused of unethical practice of “Operation Kamala”, which did not dent the BJP a bit for the reason that the originator of buying MLAs (in what was and is called “horse – trading” of “jetsams and flotsams” of unprincipled, ambitious MLAs and MPs) was in fact the Congress — the mother of all political parties in India.

The next accusation was what is known as mining scam. A “long march” of a kind was undertaken by the Congress party to the biggest mining district of the State, Bellary, from Bangalore by way of protest but it too ended in a whimper for the reason that some of the Congress leaders in the State too were involved in the mining scam, including illegal mining and even theft. It, therefore, turned out to be a case of kettle calling the pot black. Neither the Congress nor the JD (S) could claim a moral high ground on this issue and therefore, it simply fizzled out leaving Yeddyurappa smiling. After all, in the land of blind, one - eyed man is the king. So, Yeddyurappa became the king!

While Yeddyurappa was thus warding off the political evil wind from the Opposition, a whirlwind of discontent was brewing in his own party with MLAs “welcomed” via “Operation Kamala” and those elected for third and fourth terms on BJP tickets asking for their pound of flesh. But the worst was the rebellion from the ambitious Reddy brothers — the mining lords of Bellary.

Yeddyurappa came out of this ordeal too rather successfully with the high command's blessings (Rajnath Singh, the then National BJP President standing by him like a Rock of Gibraltar) despite demur from Reddy brothers' Godmother Sushma Swaraj. However, since then Yeddyurappa's position within BJP became weakened if not untenable. After all, it was because of Yeddyurappa, belonging to the Lingayat majority community of Karnataka, that BJP could win as many seats as it had enabling it to form the government.

And when JD (S) led by H. D. Kumaraswamy as CM, humiliated Yeddyurappa by reneging on the question of passing the baton of Chief Minister as per “20 - 20 month” agreement, the whole of Lingayat community as also the fair - minded people of Karnataka were shocked. Kumaraswamy's prevarication on his act of perfidy did not convince the voters. In the ensuing election, therefore, it was advantage Yeddyurappa.

How can the BJP high command drop Yeddyurappa, the party's General in Karnataka, who had gone through such Agni Pariksha at the hands of the Opposition? The BJP high command was naturally condescending despite Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar, the CM – in - waiting ever since Yeddyurappa sat on CM's chair.

Then came the rebellion of 11 MLAs and 5 Independent Ministers with some help from JD (S) and Congress, leading to trust vote twice in four days — Oct. 11 and Oct. 14 — which too Yeddyurappa managed to survive!

Now, looking at the ongoing attack on Yeddyurappa, related to denotification of lands, favouritism and nepotism, it is possible Yeddyurappa's new refrain of anguish may be the same as that of a famous politician of the past: God save me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies.

The Opposition and the TV channels have been screaming since a few days, especially after the “Adarsh” apartment scandal of Maharashtra that took the scalp of the Chief Minister and his deputy, that there is a Rs. 500 crore land scam surrounding Yeddyurappa by way of “denotification” of lands to favour his sons and friends. They are baying for his blood like head - hunters of Africa.

State and National Media, Print and TV, have been urging the BJP at the Centre to follow the “high moral example” of Congress in sacking Ashok Chavan, Kalmadi and Raja by sacking Yeddyurappa in Karnataka based on opposition allegation.
Comparison of the Congress scam of that scale and sinister favouritism is odious here. In fact, there is no comparison at all. But then it does not absolve Yeddyurappa of the sins and crimes all rulers all over the world commit. The truth is “Hamam me sub log nange hain”.

However, it is indeed a Machiavellian move on the part of Yeddyurappa when in yesterday's Cabinet meeting it was decided to order a judicial probe into denotification orders over the last 10 years passed by various governments. It is a case of tit – for - tat — “If you are accusing me of denotifying to favour someone or for money (bribe), let me expose you and show that you are no angels either”, seems to be Yeddyurappa's idea in ordering this probe which will also help him buy time in office, if the BJP high command is thinking of a change of CM.

All the same, the BJP high command must guard itself against unwittingly committing harakiri in the State, succumbing to media blitzkrieg against it.

If Congress party can uphold political morality by sacking Ashok Chavan (Maharashtra CM), Suresh Kalmadi (CWG Organising Committee Chairman) and Union Telecom Minister A. Raja (of 2G spectrum scam), why not the BJP — which is after Dr. Manmohan Singh, the PM — sack Yeddyurappa? is the refrain of the opposition.

But Yeddyurappa says that he has done no wrong. He has done nothing illegal. His family members acquired lands without violating any law. Just because they are his sons, family members or friends, they cannot be denied their rights to buy land. And as for “denotification”, he has done what his predecessors in office in the past 10 years or more have done. Which is why all those politicians hold hundreds and thousands of acres of land if not in their own name (which is prudent on their part), for sure in benami names.

Maharashtra and other scams involving Congress politicians have nothing in common with what is alleged in Karnataka against BJP politicians, especially Yeddyurappa. What is sauce for goose cannot be sauce for gander in this case, as there is neither any corruption nor violation of law in denotifying land. "So I will not quit and BJP will rule Karnataka for the next 20 years while the Congress and JD(S) will cool their heels sitting in the Opposition in the Assembly," says Yeddyurappa. This is super - optimism on the part of a defiant Yeddyurappa that all politicians should display as a morale - booster and auto - suggestion to fight their political battle. And Yeddyurappa is no exception. Best of luck, Sir.

True, at present, BJP in Karnataka cannot do without Yeddyurappa for all the political reasons. Yet, when Central and State politics are mixed, as the Congress and JD (S) are desperately trying, it may turn out to be a deadly combination and may not augur well for Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa may become the victim but BJP will be the greatest loser.

The BJP high command should not forget that at this point of time neither a Shettar, no matter a Lingayat, nor a Santoshji of RSS will be able to face the ensuing December election to ZP and TP with any measure of success. It should also take care to see Yeddyurappa is not projected as a lame - duck Chief Minister at the time of going to election. Losing in these elections will be the end of BJP in the next Assembly election two – and - half years away.