Karnataka Cabinet split on caste lines, disgusted CM takes ill

Few Vokkaliga ministers and legislators held several meetings at the residence of Minister Revanna, son of former prime minister Deve Gowda, to vent their anger on the injustice caused to Vokkliga officers in the recent transfers and in general the dominance of Lingayat leaders, legislators and bureaucrats in the state.

Some Vokkaliga leaders, averse to meet at Revanna’s residence, viewing that Deve Gowda, away at USA for a lecture on Indian’s nuclear policy, as the leader of the community and not his son, met at the residence of another Vokklaiga minister, giving apicture that the Vokkaliga lobby was not united over several issues.

Shankar said the meetings of Vokklaiga leaders had disgusted Patel.

The five man committee- Patel, Deve Gowda, Bommai, Siddaramaiah and Shankar- which recently had almost resolved the crisis in the party had made it clear that no meetings on caste lines or any other format, should be held as the committee was reviewing the situation and finalising the list of Chairmen for various Boards and Corporations and cabinet reshuffle in about a fortnight.

It is learnt that Patel taking serious view of the meeting at Revanna’s residence has directed Shankar to seek an explanation about the need for such meetings and the motive.

Patel has left it to Siddaramaiah to sit with his secretary B S Patil and Joint secretary Siddaiah to go through the list of transfers and other issues to find out whether the Vokkaliga community was really sidelined.

It was left to film star and party MP Ambarish to bring the warring factions within the communitytogether by holding a series of dinner metings.

Meanwhile another meeting was held few days ago in which Vokkaliga leaders from all parties, including Congress and BJP, met to take a serious note of growing dominance of Lingayat community. It was decided that no matter which party was at the helm of affairs, a Vokkaliga leader should be projected. Former deputy Chief Minister S M Krishna is being projected as the leader of the community.