Even a cabinet reshuffle has failed to quell the storm brewing inside the BJP-ruled Karnataka government. Several BJP leaders have accused Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa of favouring his supporters while alloting cabinet berths in the state.
The chief minister expanded his 17-month-old cabinet on Wednesday after much deliberations and the exercise already saw some aspirants who could not make it publicly air their displeasure.
Several BJP leaders have alleged that Yediyurappa inducted those who had "blackmailed" him with a CD or were his supporters.
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, MP Renukacharya, Sathish Reddy, Thippa Reddy, SA Ramadass and AH Vishwanath -- leaders who could not make it into the cabinet, have been quite vocal in expressing their displeasure.
Disgruntled BJP MLA Basangouda Yatnal said, "The CM has made those who are blackmailing him as ministers. Three people- one political secretary and two ministers have been blackmailing with some of Yediyurappa's CDs for three months. One who is becoming minister today along with CD blackmail was also involved in the payment of money to Vijayendra (CM's son)."
He had previously requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end dynastic politics from Yediyurappa's family in Karnataka, which has a chief minister, an MP (BY Raghavendra) and a BJP state vice-president (BY Vijayendra).
After the reshuffle, Yediyurappa's political secretary MP Renukacharya headed to Delhi to express his disappointment over the move to the party high command.
"The ones who went against BS Yediyurappa's leadership are the ones who have been made the ministers. I will tell the scams that few of these ministers were behind," Renukacharya
told reporters.
Vishwanath on Thursday called upon people to discuss the 'Son Stroke', a jibe seen as targeting the chief minister's family. "Let the discussion start from Raichur. The topic is Son Stroke. I hope you understand it," Vishwanath said in an apparent reference to Yediyurappa allegedly giving prominence to his children and family members in the party.
TAKE UP GRIEVANCES WITH PARTY HIGH COMMAND: YEDIYURAPPA
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa asked the sulking BJP leaders to take up the matter with the BJP's national leadership and urged them to refrain from making any remarks affecting the party.
"If the BJP MLAs have any objection they can go to Delhi, meet our national leaders and give them all the information and complaints they have. I won't object to that but I ask them not to damage the party's reputation by talking ill," Yediyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru.
I request all MLAs who are making these allegations, to talk to our high command. No one is stopping them. It's not fair to react here and there, it will not hold good in the party forum, don't create any confusion: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa https://t.co/epX6iRrrF9
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2021
Noting that the central leaders will take a call on their complaints, he said the seniors in the party are aware of the facts.
Later, speaking to reporters in Davangere, he insisted he could do what was within his limits, on the matter and warned those speaking ill about him.
CONGRESS TARGETS CM OVER DYNASTY POLITICS CHARGE
The opposition Congress in Karnataka took a dig at Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa over dynasty politics allegations made against him by some BJP legislators.
The party also sought to seize in on some of the legislators' claim that the CM was blackmailed by some other MLAs by possessing a 'CD'.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Congress chief D K Shivakumar alleged Yediyurappa's children have become de facto chief ministers.
Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to target the Yediyurappa.
"A BJP Karnataka MLA has openly claimed that many BJP leaders have got ministerial berth by blackmailing BS Yediyurappa using a CD. Does the CM of Karnataka have the courage to file a criminal case against those who blackmailed him?" Siddaramaiah tweeted.
.@BJP4Karnataka MLA has openly claimed that many BJP leaders have got ministerial berth by blackmailing @BSYBJP using a C.D.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 14, 2021
Does @CMofKarnataka have courage to file a criminal case against those who blackmailed him?
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At a press conference, DK Shivakumar said, "Your MLAs only have started saying that it is not Bharatiya Janata Party but 'Blackmailers Janata Party'."
BJP now is 'Blackmailers Janata Party'
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) January 14, 2021
BJP's own MLAs & Leaders are accusing CM Yediyurappa of being bribed & blackmailed during Cabinet expansion.
These statements by BJP leaders must be probed by a sitting HC Judge & enforcement agencies like ED must suo-motu register a case.
(with inputs from PTI)