Signs that all is not well in the BJP in Karnataka despite CM B S Yeddyurappa pulling off a big victory in the LS polls became evident at the first anniversary bash of the first BJP government in South India on Sunday. At the Vijayothsav,four key ministers and a fleet of MLAs attached to the Bellary brigade were missing. The Reddy brothers of Bellary,iron-ore mining magnates credited with playing a key role in pushing the BJP past the 113 mark in the 224-member Assembly following the polls last year,formed the core of the suspected dissident group. Janardhan Reddy,Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure,his brother Karunakar Reddy,Minister for Revenue and Forests,their close associate and Minister for Health B Sreeramulu all of whom represent the Bellary region were among those in absentia. A dozen MLAs,who swear allegiance to the brothers,did not attend the programme. Their absence is being seen as a reaction to Yeddyurappas emergence as a power centre following the polls. Yeddyurappa also did nothing to improve the prospects of the BJP candidate from Bellary in the LS polls. BJP candidate J Shantha,Sreeramulus sister,made it to the LS by a thin margin of 2,243 votes over her Congress rival. Reddy brothers,who are business associates of Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddys son Jaganmohan Reddy,claim to command the loyalty of 40 of the 116 BJP MLAs in the Assembly,and are viewed as the counter force to Yeddyurappa in the Karnataka BJP. Also missing was Water Resources and Irrigation Minister K S Eshwarappa who hails from Shimoga. Differences with Yeddyurappa over the CM introducing his son B Y Raghavendra to politics through the Shimoga seat seems to be the reason behind his absence.
