The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP talks tough on Shettar’s induction

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP talks tough on Shettar’s induction

Special Correspondent

Protests by supporters of disappointed ministerial aspirants spread to other areas

Sources say Shettar may lose the Speaker’s post too, if he delays decision on accepting it
Shettar says he prefers to be a mere MLA

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is learnt to have decided to stick to its stand that its senior leader Jagadish Shettar should accept only the Speaker’s post and that he could not be accommodated in the ministry though the protests by his followers continued on Saturday.

Sources in the BJP told The Hindu that the ball was in Mr. Shettar’s court. “We have offered him an important post of Speaker in the interest of the party government. It is left to him to accept it.”

A senior party functionary said the party was unlikely to consider Mr. Shettar for ministry. “Mr. Shettar might lose the Speaker’s post also if he rejects the offer. The indications are that the party may not wait beyond June 2 or 3 to get confirmation from Mr. Shettar on accepting the Speaker’s post as the party government headed by B.S. Yeddyurappa has to face the legislature session from June 4 and the Speaker’s election has been scheduled on June 5.” Sources said the party leaders were hopeful that Mr. Shettar would accept the Speaker’s post.

Mr. Shettar has stuck to his stand. He said he would not accept the Speaker’s post and that he would prefer to continue as an MLA and focus on the party work. The protests by Mr. Shettar’s followers demanding that he should be accommodated in the ministry continued.

The supporters of Chamaraja MLA H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda continued their protest on Saturday in Mysore demanding his inclusion in the ministry. Some party workers in Chikmagalur district too demanded representation in the ministry to their leader C.T. Ravi. Mr. Yeddyurappa and several of his Cabinet colleagues called on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders, including K.S. Sudarshan, on Saturday. The team went to RSS State headquarters at Keshava Shilpa on learning that Mr. Sudarshan was in Bangalore.

Protests in Anekal

Protests in Anekal over exclusion of Anekal MLA A. Narayanaswamy from the Ministry continued on Saturday in Anekal taluk. Three buses were stoned and a two-hour bandh was observed in Anekal. Protests were held in various villages in the taluk. People burnt tyres and threw stones at some buses.

A city bus was stoned at Kavalahosalli village. Two Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses were stoned at Bommasandra in Hebbagodi police station limits.

Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural, Vikash Kumar Vikash, said except for stray incidents of stone throwing the bandh was peaceful.

Advocates join stir

Hubli Staff Correspondent reports:

The agitation against Mr. Shettar’s exclusion from the ministry continued in Hubli with members of the Hubli Bar Association participating in it on Saturday.

The advocates, led by association president C.R. Patil, boycotted the courts. They staged a demonstration outside the court complex in Hubli. Mr. Shettar is a member of the Hubli Bar Association.

Mr. Patil said that Mr. Shettar was instrumental in the BJP winning 43 Assembly seats out of 69 constituencies that went to polls in the third phase of the Assembly elections in the State.

He said Mr. Shettar was emerging as a leader of North Karnataka and the move of not including him in the ministry was aimed at curbing him. He said the Bar Association would urge the BJP leadership to make Mr. Shettar a Minister.

Dharna

Members of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Association of Kusugal Road organised a dharna in front of the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar near the Head Post Office in Hubli on Saturday protesting against non-inclusion of Mr. Shettar in the ministry.

Hubli-Dharwad corporators, who had reportedly threatened to resign, have decided to wait and watch in the wake of assurance given by the BJP leadership on including Mr. Shettar in the Cabinet.

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