When the Karnataka High Court upheld the disqualification of the 11 BJP rebel MLAs last month, naturally Chief Minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa was a relieved man. His aim of proving that defection would not be tolerated was sucessful.
Also, as per the latest news, Yeddyurappa is determined to expand his Cabinet. It was reported that he had a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Gadkari yesterday in Napur. Supposedly it was simply to convey Diwali greetings, but that just seems to be a cover for the real aim of Cabinet expansion. Actually, the swearing-in ceremony of new Ministers was to have taken place on the first day of Diwali, that is, November 3rd. However, as everyone knows, assigning Cabinet seats is not that simple! Just about everybody wants to grab power, so Yeddyurappa had a long queue of aspiring Ministers and less seats!! So, till Diwali is over, there is unlikely going to be any Cabinet expansion.
In the light of all these defections and expansions, will the present Karnataka Govt. complete its full 5 year term? Somehow, I feel maybe not. If Yedyurappa is finding people within his own party protesting against selection of Ministers for his Cabinet, it is quite likely that his supporters within the party will diminish. Also, if opposing political parties take advantage of this, one fine day they may file a no-confidence motion against the Govt. Perhaps, then, the current Govt. will collapse. If there are public elections, it is quite possible the people of Karnataka, fed up with the current scenario, decide to cast their votes in such a way as to bring a new Govt. to power.
Let's wait and watch...book your seats for a ringside view of the political circus as it unfolds!
Regards,
Vandana