Yeddyurappa has his own logic. The so called high command has no stock of magic.
If anyone in the BJP calls him corrupt, Yedyurappa calls him back the beneficiary of his corruption. And hence nobody in the party has right to ask him to step down. Even L K Advani, paragon of virtue, is not an exception.
At a point of time, Advani is believed to have said he would never step into the parliament if Yeddyurappa stays on. But, the chief minister has taken this as blackmail as the patriarch was a silent spectator all along, when the party luminaries accepting heavy suitcases from him with broad smile.
Why, he had come all the way from Delhi to bless him when Yeddyurappa came victorious to establish the first BJP government in South India. He applauded, when he took oath on the steps of Vidhanasoudha. He affectionately embraced him, when the new CM touched his feet amidst jubilation. He knew Yeddyurappa had accomplished the feet thanks to money and muscle power of the very illegal mining. He appreciated the innovation of stabilizing the government: ‘operation lotus’, knowing the mining children of a doting mother were behind it.
Now calling a thief a thief, and claiming his scalp is not in a good taste. It’s in violation of the gentleman agreement. This is where Yeddyurappa coming from, and its all about understanding and misunderstanding of a loot gang. Nothing to do with politics, while the issue of corruption is just a humbug.
If really corruption was an issue, there were many occasions to show Yeddyurappa door. It could have easily been done, when the governor sanctioned to prosecute him. It was a case of a single man, in power, indulging in corruption to help his kin to mint money unlike the Lokayukta report that puts him among thousand culprits. And what is the allegation? Accepting donation from a steel company, and selling a piece of land to another steel company. Just a mockery! It’s insult to Yeddyurappa and his political fraternity, who have capacity of committing greater frauds.
The high command that had thrown its weight behind its hero then, why is baying for his blood now? Then also the parliament session was a challenge for them, as it is the case now. While the BJP wanted to attack the UPA on 2G spectrum scam, the ruling coalition wanted to use Yeddyurappa case a shield. The valiant overtures of the leaders of the opposition in the parliamentary houses- Sushma Swaraj, and Arun Jaitley- calmed down incredibly after the CM’s mid-night visits.
In fact, there is nothing tough as they are projecting. UPA is caught in the web weaved by Anna Hazare and it is more than happy to seek opposition’s cooperation in Lokpal Bill, and ready to be silent on BJP’s corruption.
As someone in the BJP said it’s just a political process of change of guard in the state, and Yeddyurappa must obey the high command regardless of issues.
Fine enough. But, what is the means and timing you have chosen to effect the change of guard?
Yeddyurappa camp is seething with getting information that Advani pushed his son-like Santhosh Hegde to advance the submission of the report to 27 July, while the Lokayukta had his plans to give it on 1 Aug. Can you remember how the staff in Lokayukta was waiting for the copies of the report to come till last minute, on the day? How Hegde highlighted only the selective portions of the report, in the press conference, which were just repetition of the points leaked to media a couple of days ago? And how the political developments unfolded thereafter?
It can be termed as the failure of the BJP top leaders to handle one Yeddyurappa, or it can be viewed as impotency of the high command that is not so high in command. or it can be said cheap means of getting rid of a pary man. But, the greatest disappointment is Advani, such a tall leader.
Where did he tumble? Is he an odd man out in the team of election winners for whom the ‘principles’ an old fashioned word? Or he failed to differentiate ratha yaathra leadership from political leadership?
Had he picked up the real politicking after the Hindutva wave receded, he would have able to take the party along with him. He should have followed his senior collegue Atal Bihari Vajapayee, who had never forgotten the ‘Raajdharma’ being a leader. Or he should have emulated Sonia Gandhi, grown clever to be immune to the allegations when her party is immersed in corruption charges.
Had he done this, Yeddyurappa would have been stepped down even before the party high command announcing his ouster. There would have no pathetic scenes of senior leaders eating humble peas after their decision throw him out made known to public.
Remember how Ashok Chawan was sacked. Barack Obama took off to the US from Delhi at 8.45 am. The Congress announced his ouster at 8.50 am. And the resignation was in Sonia’s hands at 8.55 am.
High command is a Congress word, it won’t suit the BJP.
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