Will Shimoga district MLAs still stand by Yeddy?

SHIMOGA: Will Sorab MLA H Halappa, Shimoga rural constituency legislator K G Kumaraswamy and Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna who were elected on BJP tickets, stand by caretaker Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is the billion dollar question. These MLAs extended their support to Yeddurappa soon after the party Central leaders directed him to step down. They were also seen at the CM’s official residence in Bangalore on Sunday. Halappa might have supported Yeddyurappa, as he inducted him into the cabinet as food and civil supplies minister after the BJP came to power. Halappa, an Idiga community leader, was elected as MLA for the second time from Sorab in 2008. Halappa was originally a staunch follower of former chief minister S Bangarappa, then in the Samajwadi Party. In 2004 assembly elections, Halappa switched over to the BJP and was elected as MLA for the first time from Hosanagar. Halappa had to resign when his friend accused him of raping his wife. The sex scandal case is still in court. Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakirshna too was not basically a BJP leader. He was a Bangarappa  follower and was elected from Sagar constituency on a BJP ticket in 2004. He identified himself with former CM HD Kumaraswamy, being a BJP MLA. During the 2008 Assembly polls, he obtained a BJP ticket and won. He cherished dreams of becoming a minister but when he realised that the chances were slim, he identified himself with the Reddy group, who first raised the banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa. Belur became close to Excise Minister MP Renukacharya. He was disqualified along with 15 others as they withdrew their support to the Yeddyurappa government last October. However, the Supreme Court quashed their disqualification and they again extended support to the CM. He now identifies himself with the Yeddyurappa camp. However, the question now is whether Belur will be with the caretaker CM till the end or not. MLA KG Kumaraswamy is also in the Yeddurappa camp. It is difficult to say what steps state BJP president Eshwarappa would take against them, as Eshwarappa too bayed for Yeddyurappa’s blood as per the BJP high command decision.