Until now, the high command was of the opinion that there’s no alternative to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. But the MLAs who met and spoke on the phone have zeroed in on the names of MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and former CM Jagadish Shettar.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. (Photo: PTI)
Meetings held by some Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs on Thursday have triggered speculation that the legislators are attempting to form an alternate leadership.
Until now, the high command was of the opinion that there’s no alternative to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. But the MLAs who met and spoke on the phone have zeroed in on the names of MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and former CM Jagadish Shettar.
Contentious issues include allegations that CM Yediyurappa has not been talking to his MLAs during the coronavirus pandemic, and that he isn’t bothered about what is happening in their constituencies.
MLAs feel the chief minister isn’t able to work to his full capacity. They feel that Yediyurappa’s age is also a factor that’s taking a toll on his working style.
Basangouda Patil Yatnal, whose name is being pushed by the MLAs, belongs to the Panchamasali Lingayat sect. A three-time MLA and one-time MLC, Yatnal has also been an MoS in the Union cabinet. He’s known to be a polarising figure in north Karnataka.
Around 40 MLAs are said to be ready to suggest the names of Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Jagadish Shettar to the high command.
While around 25 MLAs met over the past few days at different times, about 60 legislators reached out to each other through phone calls.
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