B.S. Yediyurappa made a historic decision when he appointed three deputy chief ministers in his Karanataka cabinet. It is for the first time that such a move has been made. Whether it helps to improve the work efficiency of the government or not will be visible in the next few months but it surely has triggered off speculations about Karnataka BJP focussing on preparing young brigade for the next elections in the state.
A Move To Train Successor of Yediyurappa?
Yediyurappa has appointed Govind Maktappa Karajol, Laxman Sangappa Savadi, and Ashwath Narayan as the three deputy ministers in his cabinet. Karajol will handle the Public Works Department, Narayan has been given Higher education portfolio whereas Savadi will be in charge of the transport department.
The name of Narayan has already come to the forefront after he acted as a trouble-shooter and strategies to resolve ‘Operation Kamala.’ Political experts believe that this new move is motivated by the intention to promote a new crop who in the future may succeed the current 76-year-old Karanataka CM.
One thing that supports this speculation is that Yediyurappa has not included leaders like R Ashok and KS Eshwarappa who earlier served as the deputy chief ministers in the BJP-led Karnataka govenrment.
The move has also upset some of the senior BJP leaders who have not been made a part of the cabinet. Ashok has been given the charge as the revenue minister whereas Eashwarappa will handle the rural development and Panchayati Raj portfolio.
Warning From Eshwarappa’s Supporters
The supporters of Eshwarappa has issued a warning that sidelining the minister is nothing short of an insult and if Eshwarappa is not given the post of deputy chief minister they will soon hit the party in the coming days. The three ministers who have been given the opportunity as deputy chief ministers are from different communities. One belongs to scheduled caste, the other two to vokkaliga and lingayat.
Many are of the opinion that with this move, the party wants to reach out to other communities and shed its lingayat-centric image that BJP had until now. The Lingayats have always supported BJP and Yediyurappa. By giving candidates from other communities opportunities in the top slot, the party intends to spread its election strategy and adopt a more inclusive approach.
According to Narayan who is one of the three deputy ministers, “Happy or not happy is not the matter. It is a responsibility that the party has given me and the CM has recognized. Whatever is allocated, I will do to the best of my ability.”
