Lotus in tatters

Pune Mirror

Bangalore. 01 August 2011:  The disciplined state BJP, which had only two factions — headed by Yeddyurappa and Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar respectively — till recently, has now several factions, each trying its best to outsmart the other., each trying its best to outsmart the other.

 

BSY loyalists:

The core group comprises at least 20 MLAs and a dozen MPs, who have the backing of the Lingayat community. The most visible face here is minister Shobha Karandlaje and highly vocal is minister M P Renukacharya, apart from MP D V Sadananda Gowda. The group is capable of tilting the power-scale — a pointer to it is the ongoing crisis where the MLAs dared to defy the party high command by demanding continuance of Yeddyurappa. If Yeddyurappa does not get what he sought, this group will turn a formidable opposition to whoever occupies the CM’s chair.

 

Reddy group:

Led by the triumvirate — Janardhan Reddy, Karunakar Reddy and B Sriramulu —- and driven by business interests, this has been the money-bags of the BJP. With the Lokayukta report indicting them and the three all set to lose ministerial berths, they would do anything to avoid drowning. The size of the group is nine, a significant number.

 Migrant leaders:

These leaders were poached by Yeddyurappa. Comprising 10 MLAs, the prominent names in the group are ministers Basavaraj Bommai, Umesh Katti and V Somanna. Though currently identified with Yeddyurappa, this group is vulnerable during poaching exercises.

 

R Ashok supporters:

This has been a recent formation comprising MLAs from Bangalore and the Vokkaliga community. It is headed by home minister R Ashok. In fact, Ashok tried to emerge as the front-runner for the CM’s post claiming that he makes a strong opponent to the Deve Gowda family. This group would react only if there is a direct threat to Ashok’s ministership; otherwise they would ally with any group that is in power.

 

Ananth Kumar faction:

This group basically comprises those who have strong roots in the RSS, and mostly those from the Brahmin community. With Kumar himself nurturing aspirations of becoming CM and now that Yeddyurappa is going to exit, this group would want to be in the driver’s seat. The other faces in the group include ministers Jagadish Shettar (a Lingayat), Suresh Kumar, Visveswara Hegde Kageri, Govind Karjol and former minister Arvind Limbavali.

 

Jarkiholi team:

These 11 MLAs were disqualified at Yeddyurappa’s behest last year were qualified after an SC intervention. Led by sugar baron Balachandra Jarkiholi and with tainted MLA Y Sampangi, this group doesn’t have  strength to bargain, but can cause loss to a big group.