My time has now come

B.S. Yeddyurappa:

HAVING won back the support of the Janata Dal (Secular), which had pipped him at the post a few weeks ago, B.S. Yeddyurappa is now a happy man. But he has apparently decided to maintain a low profile, in view of the manner in which Governor Rameshwar Thakur has been dilly-dallying in sending across what has been described as a factual report to President Pratibha Patil that could prompt her to revoke Presidents Rule. The Governor has stated that the ball is not in his court and that he will act according to constitutional guidelines once he receives the presidential directions.

After parading 129 legislators before the Governor, the BJP had waited for nearly a week to obtain a favourable decision from him about government formation when Frontline met Yeddyurappa. In a brief chat, the Chief Minister-in-waiting said he was confident of good support from the JD(S) and that the two coalition partners would together provide a people-friendly government over the next 19 months. It was Kumaraswamy and me who finalised the initial understanding between the two parties. We have a good relationship and there should be no cause for any worry, he said, adding that the Congress has been working overtime to prevent the formation of a BJP-led government. Whatever the Congress may say, the people of Karnataka are fully aware of all that has happened on the political front over the past month and there will be a fitting reply if anything adverse takes place, he said.

Asked on the 12-point condition sought to be imposed by H.D. Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister and the national president of the JD(S), Yeddyurappa said further discussions relating to the agreement would be held between the BJPs central leaders and Deve Gowda. We have just crossed the first stage in government formation. After the Governors invitation to form the government we will start the second stage of discussions. There will always be a give and take and both parties will have a good and transparent understanding. I do not want to talk anything more on this subject at the present juncture, he said.

Among the conditions that he has sought to impose, Deve Gowda has asked for the post of chairman of the coordination committee of the two parties for his son and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Significantly, the coordination committee of the JD(S) and the BJP had not met for the last seven months of the Kumaraswamy government and this led to the differences between the two parties. Despite the BJPs constant reminder, the then convener of the committee and former Home Minister M.P. Prakash did not call a meeting of the coordination committee, apparently acting on directions from the Janata Dal (S) leadership.

Yeddyurappa, who had embarked on a pilgrimage in the wake of the crisis, said he was confident from the very beginning that the JD(S) would return to extend support to the BJP. My time has now come. My confidence stems from the blessings of God and the people of Karnataka. What should have happened about a month ago will now be completed. Let there be no worry. I will provide a good administration and ensure that the image of the State is better than what it has been. I will do the people proud and take care of all sections of society, he said.

S. Rajendran