New Delhi: Days after the Lokayukta Police registered a case against former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, his family members and at least two Government officials in connection with a corruption case, the Supreme Court this morning granted relief to the BJP leader and stayed the investigation.

The Apex Court Bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli issued a notice in response to a plea by Yediyurappa challenging an order of the Karnataka High Court that had restored a bribery complaint filed against him and others under the Prevention of   Corruption Act.

Senior Advocates Siddharth Dave and Mukul Rohatgi appearing on behalf of Yediyurappa argued that the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) requires prior sanction before conducting any inquiry, enquiry or investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by a public servant in discharge of official functions or duties.

The Lokayukta Police had filed the case against Yediyurappa and others after receiving permission from the Karnataka HC. Reports said that the Supreme Court also stayed further proceedings as far as the petitioner was concerned.

The SC notice has been issued to social activist T.J. Abraham on the BJP leader’s plea challenging the HC order. The corruption case deals with the award of a contract from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

Yediyurappa had moved the Supreme Court against the HC order that restored a private complaint against him and his family members, including his son B.Y. Vijayendra, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs. 12.5 crore to secure a project for Ramalingam Construction Company Private Limited from the BDA.

The HC’s order issued on Sept. 7 came in response to a plea by Abraham against the lower court’s order dismissing his private complaint. The social activist had alleged in his complaint that the BDA had given a contract to Ramalingam Construction Company Pvt. Ltd., owned by Chandrakant Ramalingam, as a favour for receiving bribes. The case concerns the award of tender for the construction of BDA apartments at Konadasapura in Bidarahalli in the State capital.

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BSY visits Suttur Mutt, seeks Seer’s blessings

Mysore/Mysuru: Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa (BSY) asserted that the BJP would return to power with a thumping majority by winning more than 140 seats in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

He was speaking to press-persons at Suttur Mutt here this  morning, where he sought the blessings of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji and had breakfast there. BSY had arrived in the city last evening and stayed overnight.

Lashing out at the Opposition Congress for making baseless charges against the BJP, Yediyurappa maintained that there is a BJP wave in the State and the Congress is disturbed over it. Stating that he will undertake a tour of the entire State after Apr.1 for organisation of the party, the former CM said he was happy that the party workers have been successful in delivering the benefits of various State and Central Government schemes to the doorsteps of beneficiaries, which is crucial for the poll success of a party.

When asked about the chances of poll advancement in the State, BSY said that there is no such move and such speculations will arise whenever Amit Shah happens to visit the State.

Replying to a question on change of leadership, Yediyurappa said that there is no change and Basavaraj Bommai will continue as the CM.

“Bommai will lead the party in the coming Assembly polls and no one need to have any doubt regarding this. All speculations regarding change of leadership are baseless and there is                           no need to pay heed for them,” he said.

When asked about BJP’s strategy for Karnataka polls, in the wake of the party’s recent poll success in five States, BSY said that the party will have to strategies on taking along all communities coming under SC/ST and OBC categories on a much larger scale.

Arguing that women em-powerment is also crucial for poll success, the ex-CM said the party will work towards making the initiative cent percent successful. Stating that ‘Nari Shakti’ is a crucial factor, he said the BJP Government has done more for empowerment of women than any Government in the past.

Former MP C.H. Vijayashankar, Karnataka Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman  Shivanna,  Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations — H.V. Rajeev, Ka.Pu. Siddalingaswamy, Hemanth Kumar Gowda and L.R. Mahadevaswamy — in-charge Mayor Sunanda Palanetra, Corporators B.V. Manjunath, M.V. Ramprasad and Lakshmi  Kiran Madegowda, City BJP President T.S. Srivatsa, District President Mangala Somashekar, party leaders M. Rajendra, M.V. Ravishankar, Kautilya Raghu and other leaders were present.

Yediyurappa later left for Virakta Mutt in Yelandur by road.

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• BJP Legislature Party meeting at 7 pm today 
• All MLAs summoned to Bengaluru 
• Two Union Ministers as Observers
• New CM swearing-in likely on Thursday

Bengaluru: An emergency BJP Legislature Party (BJP-LP) meeting has been called in Bengaluru today at 7 pm to select the next Chief Minister to succeed B.S. Yediyurappa, who resigned teary-eyed yesterday. The new CM will face the challenge of steering the Government for the next 21 months, until the 2023 Assembly elections.

All BJP MLAs have been asked to be present at the Capitol Hotel near Raj Bhavan where Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North East G. Kishan Reddy will act as Central Observers who will hear the MLAs on the new leader.

The communication of the meeting to the MLAs has been given through Karnataka BJP Media Convener Karunakara Khasale by Party Chief Spokesperson Captain Ganesh Karnik.  

The BJP High Command has entrusted Pradhan and Reddy to ensure smooth transition of power. Along with them, the party in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh (also party General Secretary) and his deputy D.K. Aruna will be present. While the party in-charges are scheduled to arrive from New Delhi at 2 pm, the Observers will arrive at 4 pm. 

MLAs will not be allowed to meet the Observers and the party will follow the Assam and Uttarakhand models to select the leader. In Assam and Uttarakhand, the party changed the CM aiming to take on the next elections on the basis of collective leadership rather than the face of the new Chief Minister. Whatever opinions expressed at the BJP-LP meeting this evening will be collective and not individual, sources told Star of Mysore. 

Hours before today’s BJP-LP meeting, a Central BJP Parliamentary Board is meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to select Yediyurappa’s successor. BJP Chief J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are part of the meeting. There is a high likelihood of Dharmendra Pradhan and Kishan Reddy carrying the name of the next CM in a sealed cover before they arrive in Bengaluru.

Though it is not confirmed, party leaders have indicated that the leadership will consider Yediyurappa’s preferences while choosing his successor. The Observers will have to assess the tone and mood before finalising a successor. 

“The High Command has to see the tone and mood of the legislators. They will have to weigh all the factors and decisions will be taken by the Central leadership in accordance with the outcome of the Legislature Party meeting,” a BJP leader said. If at all the new leader is elected or announced this evening, the swearing-in ceremony of the new CM will be held on Thursday (July 29) on the lawns of Raj Bhavan.

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Chamarajanagar: A die-hard fan of Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa (BSY) committed suicide unable to digest the fact that Yediyurappa is no longer the CM. 

The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Rajappa alias Ravi, an employee at a hotel who took the extreme step as soon as the news broke of CM resigning yesterday. Ravi was a resident of Bommalapura village in Gundlupet taluk. 

Taking to twitter, Yediyurappa shared his grief over Ravi’s passing away with his family members and appealed to his followers to keep their admiration within acceptable limits. “I am hurt and disappointed over the suicide. Ups and downs are natural in politics and ending one’s life for such things is unacceptable. Nobody can make up for the loss of family,” he tweeted.

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Mysore/Mysuru: District in-Charge Minister S.T. Somashekar has thanked the Mysureans for extending full co-operation in the execution of several development works in the District for the last two years.

In a press release here yesterday, he said the Government headed by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had done many things for overall development of the State. The Department of Co-operation has instilled confidence in farmers and traders who have been hit by COVID-19 pandemic. Loans and facilities were extended for them to achieve self-reliance.

“I have visited Mysuru for over 150 times in the last 15 months. Besides, I have met citizens and the elected representatives of 11 Assembly Constituencies by visiting at least four times and also responded to their needs and demands. I have discharged by duty as the Cabinet Minister to my satisfaction and I am indebted to the Delhi leaders. I thank all my Cabinet colleagues for their full co-operation in the last 24 months,” he said.

Somashekar said during the Corona crisis, the Co-operative institutions and the APMCs have collectively contributed Rs.58 crore towards the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund. Through this, those institutions have proved they are always ready to help when the people faced difficulties. His Department has distributed Rs.3,000 as incentive each for 42,500 ASHA workers which cost Rs.12.75 crore for the Government treasury. Apart from this, contributions were collected from various Co-operative institutions and the same have been distributed among all districts, he added.

When Corona positive cases reached its peak, the demand for oxygen and beds spiked. At that time, 100 oxygenated beds were created at the Super Specialty Hospital, Trauma Care Centre and Seth Mohandas Tulasidas Hospital. Besides, the sufficient quantity of oxygen was ensured in the entire District. The CM was explained about the need to take up the developmental works in the layouts formed by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and got permission from the State Government to utilise Rs.377 crore available with the MUDA. Besides, steps have been taken for supplying 120 MLD of Kabini water to Mysuru city. The construction of multi-storey housing complexes on behalf of MUDA was in Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage, Somashekar said.

The Minister said Dasara is celebrated in grand scale with the participation of lakhs of tourists from across the country. But, due to Corona pandemic, this ‘Nada Habba’ was celebrated in a simple manner by spending Rs.2.20 crore as against Rs.10 crore released by the Government last year. For the first time, the statement of expenditure has been put up on the public domain. “I could do all these, thanks to the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari and Lord Srikanteshwara and the wishes of Mysureans,” he said. 

Rs. 3.65 crore for Mysuru Zoo

The Minister said with no footfall owing to the outbreak of Corona positive cases and subsequent lockdown, the Mysuru Zoo faced difficulties in maintenance and feeding of animals. With no funds from the State Government, the Zoo depended fully on the people’s help. At that juncture, he, with the help of other Ministers, pooled Rs.3.65 crore. This was done for the first time in the history of Karnataka, he claimed.

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History tells us like life, power is not for ever. The resignation of B.S. Yediyurappa as the Chief Minister of Karnataka yesterday was unfortunate for a politician who worked like a bull to build the party from the day he joined RSS. Though a staunch Hindu, he was never a fanatic much less a fundamentalist.

It was only a hop, step and jump to politics with the blessings of RSS and as expected, tasted success from the lowest local body to the highest State Assembly. That he could keep the disparate elected MLAs belonging to different castes, creed and religion of his party, BJP, together for so long is no mean achievement.

Naturally, the BJP High Command too was noble enough to recognise his service to the party and reward him from time to time, in BJP’s times of low and times of high. He was not ignored or sidelined for the position BJP had in its power. I do not agree that there was none whom the BJP could have projected as its State leader, irrespective of the caste factor. Didn’t BJP make A.K. Subbaiah, the State President? He belonged to Kodava community whose population is just one-and-a-half lakh, and came to get 18 MLAs in 1983. Of course, this success made him over-confident so much so, he began speaking in a way ‘after me the deluge’ about RSS and the BJP. But people of Karnataka know what happened to BJP and Subbaiah with Yediyurappa too facing the same situation when he quit BJP, formed his own party (KJP) because of over-confidence born out of 17% Lingayat vote bank, but lost. 

Of course, BJP could not make it because of marginal loss of votes in many Constituencies to its candidates. That loss was due to Yediyurappa’s party candidates. But soon Yediyurappa made a home-coming and since then, except for the period of 2013-2018 when Congress under Siddharamaiah came to power and surprisingly Siddharamaiah lasted a full 5-year term. BJP had had a good period and as a Chief Minister to Yediyurappa too. Look at this:

First term, from November  7, 2007 to November 19, 2007. Second term, from May 20, 2008 to July 31, 2011. Third term, from May 17, 2018 to May 19, 2018. Fourth term, from July 26, 2019 to July 26 (yesterday), 2021. Saddest part is unlike Siddharamaiah of Congress, B.S. Yediyurappa could not complete the full term — the age factor primarily.

However, if the BJP High Command could be noble enough to reward Yediyurappa, in spite of the party’s self-imposed rule of age factor to hold the political office, by allowing him to hold the office of the Chief Minister even when he had completed 75 years (age-bar) at the time he took over as CM in 2019, the BJP High Command could have shown the same noble quality, as a special case, to complete that tail-ender period of about two years with a great ceremonious send-off, in front of the Vidhana Soudha, following the example of the Congress!

Thank God, BJP did not ‘sack’ Yediyurappa in a humiliating manner like Congress did with Andhra Chief Minister T. Anjaiah or Veerendra Patil of Karnataka. Remember? But BJP treats its leaders with dignity.

Since the days of democracy in City States of Greece, especially Athens, Democracy has never been a Government of the people, by the people and for the people. The question arises who in fact decides what is good for the people (the State) and what is not. Individuals in the Government holding highest office, mercifully, till the next election. Where is the collective or majority decision, both in times of war and peace? History is replete with examples where poor leadership has led nations to war and the good leadership won the war.

Take Britain during the II World War. And Bertrand Russell, the British Philosopher, Mathematician and Nobel Laureate says World War I was essentially egotistical — not for the good of countries who participated. It was intended to satisfy somebody’s ego.

Democracy is a shadow of a few individuals who hold real power once elected. It is an act of tight rope walking for the contestant, but once he wins, he is the hero, leader, all powerful. He decides or manipulates the system to suit his needs. We see this happening in our own city; imagine then the State and the country?

But, we must not forget that Democracy is the only form of Government that is good compared to all other forms of Governments — one party Government (Communist), Military rule, Dictatorship, Dynastic or Monarchy. In Democracy, we have at least the choice (or opportunity) to change the Government after a few years — four years or five years or six years whatever. Some hope of getting a better Government.

Therefore, what we see in India about the leadership and the Government is only because of Democracy. May we never compromise on Democracy as a form of Government for whatsoever reason. Like the English man says, “England, with all thy faults, I love thee still” let us also say, “Democracy, with all thy faults, I love thee still.”

It is because of Democracy we have a new Government at Delhi and in our State and in other States of our country, no matter to which party they belong.

Jai Democracy, Jai Hind.

e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com

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• Chief Minister terms his 2-year tenure as ‘agni parikshe’
• BJP High Command goes into huddle to select new CM

Bengaluru: Ending days of speculation, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa resigned this afternoon, exactly two years after he became the CM on July 26, 2019. He broke down as he announced that he would resign after lunch. 

Yediyurappa was speaking at Vidhana Soudha as BJP Government marked its second anniversary today. “I will resign,” he announced in a tearful speech in which he talked about being tested constantly in the past two years and going through ‘agni parikshe.’

After the announcement, the CM left for Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot where he tendered his resignation. The Governor, accepting the resignation, as per practice, asked Yediyurappa to continue in Office as care-taker CM till a new CM takes over.

Moments before, Yediyurappa told reporters that he did not resign under pressure from the High Command but out of his own volition. “No one has pressurised me. I am resigning on my own and I will be in Karnataka and will not go as Governor to any State. Will be here to serve the people,” he said.

As Yediyurappa resigned, BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met Home Minister Amit Shah. The Party will send Observers to Bengaluru to select the new CM. The date of the BJP Legislature Party meeting is yet to be decided. Joshi, coincidentally, is also one of the frontrunners for the post of CM though he has maintained silence on the issue.

‘Agni parikshe’

Struggling hard to hold back his tears, Yediyurappa, who addressed the media at Vidhana Soudha said, “When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister he asked me to be a Minister at the Centre. But I said I will be in Karnataka.”

The BJP has grown in Karnataka over the years, the 78-year-old BSY said, adding, “It has always been an ‘agni parikshe’  (trial by fire) for me. These last two years it was COVID. One after another I faced ‘agni parikshe.’ I’ve worked in spite of it. I don’t know how to thank Government servants and the Chief Secretary. All of them worked hard and trusted me.”

“I’ve a debt to pay back to the people of Karnataka. I ask Officers and MLAs to work harder and in a transparent manner,” Yediyurappa added.

“I have been continuously working to strengthen the party in the State. For two months (in 2019), I didn’t get to make my Cabinet. There were floods and I roamed like a mad man. Later the Cabinet was formed,” he said.

Before meeting the Governor, the CM tweeted, “It has been an honour to have served the State for the past two years. I am humbled and sincerely thank the people of the State for giving me the opportunity to serve them. I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi, J.P. Nadda and Amit Shah for their support.”

“Deeply influenced by Jagajyoti Basavanna’s philosophy of Kayaka, Dasoha Tatva and the life of Lingaikya Dr. Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, I have dedicated my entire 50 years of public life towards nation-building and fulfilling the aspirations of the people of  Karnataka,” he said.

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MUDA member and BJP leader K. Madesh celebrating the completion of two-year tenure of B.S. Yediyurappa as Chief Minister by distributing sweets at the V.V. Mohalla auto stand this morning.

Picture above shows Senior BJP leader and D. Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation Chairman Raghu R. Kautilya greeting Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa with a bouquet at Bengaluru this morning on the occasion of BSY Government completing two years of remarkable service to the people. Karnataka Government’s Special Representative at Delhi Shankargouda Patil and KSRTC Vice-Chairman S.N. Eshwarappa also join.

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Rally of Lingayat Seers begins at Bangalore Palace Grounds 

Bengaluru/Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said that he expects to receive a message from the BJP High Command about his political future this evening amid speculation about his replacement. 

“If the message comes by evening, I will let you know immediately. You will also come to know and will take a suitable decision after that,” the Chief Minister said this morning when asked about the matter. He was reacting to media queries on his arrival at Sambra Airport in Belagavi.

The 78-year-old arrived on a day-long tour to inspect flood-hit areas in Belagavi district. On the demand for a dalit CM, Yediyurappa said, “I cannot decide it as the High Command which will decide. We will make a decision after receiving the message from the High Command.”

Yediyurappa left Bengaluru to fly to Belagavi, one of the flood-affected districts. The torrential rain over the last few days in several districts of the State has left nine people dead and three people missing. Thousands were evacuated after their homes were flooded. 

After reviewing the relief and rehabilitation works, Yediyurappa will return to Bengaluru this evening. Tomorrow (July 26) is the second anniversary of his Government, which came to power in July 2019 after the JD(S)-Congress coalition Government collapsed as 17 legislators from the two parties combined, quit their seats and joined the BJP.

Lone warrior in 2019

Incidentally when Yediyurappa took over from the Coalition Government in 2019, heavy rain and floods were battering the State. He had visited Delhi after his oath ceremony but was sent back to the State by Union Minister Amit Shah, who told him to take care of the flood situation. With nobody else in his Cabinet for several days, Yediyurappa had toured the rain-hit districts to supervise relief operations as the only member of the Cabinet.

Seers meet

Meanwhile, in a show of strength by the Lingayat community amidst indications that Yediyurappa is on his way out, a group of nearly 100 Seers from the Lingayat and other communities are holding a solidarity meeting at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru today.

They are rallying behind Yediyurappa and want the High Command to retain him as the CM. Earlier, they made a beeline to the CM’s residence to express solidarity.  The Yediyurappa group, however, has claimed it has no connection with the protests of the Seers.

“Yediyurappa should complete his full term. Seers from all communities supported him, not only Lingayat and Veerashaiva. Why is the leadership change talks happening now, when the CM is working efficiently at the time of crisis? Earlier too, he was not CM for the complete term,” a Seer said.

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Bengaluru: With the BJP High Command seriously mulling change of guard in Karnataka, today is the D-Day for Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa as he awaits the party order.

BJP National Organising Secretary B.L. Santhosh, who had stepped in to choose the successor, is camping in Goa where a BJP conference is on. Santhosh is learnt to have already chosen Yediyurappa’s successor and has also prepared the blueprint  of the new State Cabinet. However, this is subject to the scrutiny of the BJP High Command, according to sources.

The party top brass is said to have asked Santhosh to leave Bengaluru to Goa as the aspirants for the CM’s post and Cabinet berths in the new dispensation would exert pressure on him to consider their case. BJP National President J.P. Nadda along with National General Secretary C.T. Ravi are in Goa for the party conference.  

The High Command is also worried about leakage of the party moves and decisions to the media. As such, the BJP top brass is said to have asked Santhosh to shift to Goa to avoid any meetings or talks with local party leaders on the change of leadership issue or Ministerial berths. 

The BJP  is said to have taken  serious note of the dissidence that  came out in the open when the party’s Karnataka In-charge Arun Singh visited Bengaluru late last month to elicit opinion from the party Legislators. The party is also wary about the political developments that may happen if the choice of a new leader is discussed and finalised in Bengaluru.

Bommai-Prahlad meet assumes significance

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai yesterday met Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi at the latter’s residence in Bengaluru which has assumed significance especially at a time when leadership change is hitting headlines.

Pralhad Joshi is said to be one of the frontrunners to the CM’s post and the meeting has led to widespread speculations.

However, Bommai refused to attach any special significance to his visit, stating that he met the Union Minister following a phone call from him and only administrative issues were discussed.

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