BS Yeddyurappa, who emerged as a saffron hero three years ago when he set up the first BJP government in south India, is now seen as the party’s biggest fall guy in the state. The Lokayukta report indicting him in the mining scam was the last nail in the coffin, that brought an end to his crisis ridden reign in Karnataka.
He had just about survived an allegation of using his position to favour his sons in allotting some prime land in Bangalore. Following this, he had to publicly declare his assets in February 2011. The 68-year- old Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa, who belongs to the powerful Lingayat community, faced several hurdles inside and outside the party to become the Karnataka chief minister in 2008. Yeddy, who learned his early leadership lessons from the RSS, had to juggle with one crisis to the other, almost every other month since he assumed charge as the CM. But he managed to overcome all hurdles with his own unique brand of tactics, often using emotional speeches to win over public sentiments.
His relationship with governor HR Bhardwaj was also not smooth. More than opposition parties, he had spent more time in tackling the salvos fired by the governor. He was forced to rally his supporting MLAs in front of the President when the governor recommonded President’s rule in the state in May this year. His political career in the past five years has been rocky, but he always exhibited supreme survival instincts. He joined hands with HD Kumaraswamy, son of JD (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda in 2006 to topple Congress-led coalition in 2006 and formed the BJP-JD(S) coalition government led by Kumaraswamy. The agreement was that JD (S) will enjoy CM’s office for the first 20 months and then BJP assuming the throne for the remaining 20 months. Yeddyurappa had his first taste of power when he was made deputy chief minister cum finance minister in that government.
However in October 2007, when Yeddyurappa’s turn to become the CM neared, Kumaraswamy refused to resign from his post. Following this, Yeddyurappa and other BJP ministers resigned and withdrew their support to the Kumaraswamy government. Karnataka was put under President’s rule which was revoked on November 7. During this period, the JD(S) and the BJP decided to realign and Yeddyurappa was sworn as the CM on November 12, 2007. But he lost his post within seven days as JD (S) refused to support him over disagreement on sharing of ministries that led to President’s rule.
Untired, Yeddyurappa, who is acknowledged as a great orator in Kannada, took a tour across the state asking justice from the public. His calculations did not go wrong as the public elected BJP as the single largest party in 2008 elections.
Yeddyurappa started his career in 1965, as a first-division clerk in the social welfare department shifted to Shikaripur where he joined as a clerk at his relative’s rice mill. Later he become the secretary of the Janata Party in 1977. He was noticed in political circles when he spearheaded a team of 1,700 bonded labourers to Shimoga Deputy Commissioner’s Office demanding the release and rehabilitation of such labourers.
He was imprisoned during emergency between 1975 and 1977 and spent his days in Bellary and Shimoga jails.
He made his presence felt in the state politics when he was first time elected as MLA in 1983 and he has represented Shikaripur constituency from then on for five times. His leadership skills were recognised by the central leadership of BJP and he was made the president of the state unit twice. He was also the national secretary in 1992.