News Analysis
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and his close associate Shobha Karandlaje meeting
senior Congress leader and foreign affairs Minister SM Krishna separately at his
residence at his Bangalore, that too on the same day, has given room for widespread
speculations in political circles.
Though at the outset it is believed that the CM met SM Krishna to seek his help to
invite US President Obama to the Silicon city, there remains no doubt that the two
leaders might have even discussed politics during their meeting. No one can believe that
a meeting between two prominent politicians would be restricted merely to business
matters.
It is also unbelievable to come to the conclusion that former minister Shobha who is also
a confidante of the CM, met Krishna merely to hand over some photographs of her tour.
What is being heard is that Shobha met Krishna merely to prepare ground for the meeting
between Yeddyurappa and the foreign affairs minister.
According to one source, the CM might have met Krishna to seek the Congress support
in the event of a threat to his government in the backdrop of the Election Commission
notice to the mine lords or to seek SM Krishna’s help to weaken the case against Reddys
so that minimum action was taken against them.
Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader revealed that Shobha met the union minister just to
ascertain if the Congress doors would be open to her. It is also believed that by doing so,
Shobha wanted to make her path clear to join the cabinet.
Meanwhile, a senior leader of the Upper House said the chances of the BJP high
command dumping Yeddyurappa would be less if Yeddyurappa made it a point to the
senior leaders that he was in touch with SM Krishna who was close to the Congress
High Command and could save him in the event of some action against him in the
backdrop of the sagging image of the BJP government which was involved neck deep in
controversies.
Though it is still not clear if Yeddyurappa had discussed the issue of seeking Congress
support, one thing that is clear is that the meeting between the two leaders has sent some
message to the BJP high command leaders who are not in good terms with Yeddyurappa.
Related news: