Ministers loyal to BSY slam Eshwarappa over complaint

A group of Karnataka ministers on Thursday strongly backed Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa a day after senior Minister KS Eshwarappa accused him of running an authoritarian administration and interfering with the affairs of his Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Revenue Minister R Ashoka, Health Minister K Sudhakar and Agriculture Minister BC Patil came out in support of Yediyurappa, who is yet to break his silence on the issue.

On Wednesday, RDPR Minister KS Eshwarappa met Governor Vajubhai R Vala with a 5-page complaint against Yediyurappa for “direct interference, serious lapses and authoritarian way of running the administration”, which caused ripples in the ruling BJP.

Read: Eshwarappa alleges 'serious lapses' by B S Yediyurappa, approaches Governor

Apparently, Yediyurappa told Bommai and others that he was disappointed with Eshwarappa for having gone to the Governor.

“If Eshwarappa has objections, he should have discussed them with the CM. The Governor merely works on the advice of the Council of Ministers. What (Eshwarappa) has raised is an administrative matter that should be resolved internally and taking it to the Governor is not appropriate,” Bommai said.

In his complaint, Eshwarappa pointed at at least three instances where Yediyurappa sanctioned funds without taking him into confidence.

Bommai defended this and explained, “We’ve had Covid-19 for the past one year and no works happened, especially in rural areas due to the difficult financial situation. Since October-November, the finances have improved and MLAs requested the CM for funds. The CM took a decision and sanctioned funds.” He added that the CM has all the powers as per the Karnataka (Transaction of Business) Rules, which Eshwarappa said was violated.

Read: Congress has a field day with Eshwarappa's complaint against B S Yediyurappa

“While I agree that the minister concerned is also equally responsible, Yediyurappa is also the finance minister and it is he who sanctions funds,” Bommai said.

Urging Eshwarappa to hold talks with the CM soon, Bommai said, “This has created a deadlock. It’s been over a month since the CM sanctioned the funds, but orders have not been issued. MLAs are again mounting pressure on the CM.”

According to Ashoka, Yediyurappa as CM has “supreme power” to make decisions. “When 70-80 MLAs requested him for funds, the CM, who is also the finance minister, exercised his power. It’s not good to find fault with that,” he said.

Sudhakar said the CM can summon any file and take decisions. “Eshwarappa is senior enough. He could have sorted it out in five minutes with talks. But the current situation is certainly an embarrassment to the government, the party and even Eshwarappa. It could’ve been avoided,” he said.

Patil, a cop-turned-actor-turned-politician, said the episode saddened him. “It’s not right to accused Yediyurappa of having done something wrong when he didn’t,” he said.

MLAs loyal to Yediyurappa - Madal Virupakshappa, MP Renukacharya, Mahesh Kumtahalli and others - also hit out at Eshwarappa.