Saffron crossroad (INDIAN EXPRESS)

This is an agonising moment for the BJP, as it must finally decide the fate of its scandal-plagued government in Karnataka. The party had been reluctant to upset its first, hard-won seat in the south, but it may not have a choice this time as several senior leaders have spoken for Yeddyurappa’s dismissal, ahead of a Lokayukta report that is reported to be a scathing indictment of his involvement in illegal mining. In the three years he has been chief minister, Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa has taken hits from every direction, from within the BJP in the state and in Delhi, from a ferocious opposition, from the state governor, the Lokayukta, and more. And yet, he has slicked through all these tight situations, with his designation intact. But though he has survived persistent charges of corruption and nepotism, his presence has been a heavy liability for his party. The BJP cannot realistically attack the UPA at the Centre as long as its record in Karnataka can be called up for comparison.


The Yeddyurappa government’s actions have effectively gagged the party on many of the crucial questions facing the nation — from crony capitalism and outright nepotism to the best way to allocate natural resources. Instead of using Karnataka as a platform for policy innovation, the BJP’s energies have been consumed by a struggle to survive, often in the most ignoble way. Even the Supreme Court has come down heavily on the Yeddyurappa government’s efforts to rack up its numbers in the legislative assembly.
Of course, getting Yeddyurappa to do exit honourably — or as honourably as is possible given his recent record — might not be easy. He has indicated his intention to stay on as chief minister, and unseating him might extract a heavy price, given that he would prefer dissolving the assembly to accepting a replacement. The party may think it risks losing the goodwill of the powerful and sizeable Lingayat community to which Yeddyurappa belongs. However, if the party shows some spine now and replaces Yeddyurappa, it may recover some of its sheen. By shouldering up to one difficult decision, it can begin looking like a credible and committed force of opposition.