Three Congress backroom boys kept Yeddyurappa from getting the numbers

BENGALURU: Three Congress backroom boys ensured that the BJP was unable to break the ranks of the Congress-JD(S) in its attempt to muster sufficient support for B S Yeddyurappa, who then had to resign as Karnataka chief minister about 55 hours after taking oath. Yeddyurappa moved the trust vote, but made a speech and resigned from the post without going through with it. He and pro tem Speaker K G Bopaiah left the assembly even before the National Anthem finished playing.

The JD(S) stayed in the background all through the government-formation operations. AICC leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot took over the exercise. The Congress’ main troubleshooter, DK Shivakumar, is the man acknowledged to have kept the flock together, while Kumaraswamy quietly ensured that his MLAs stayed with him. Two Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and Pratapgouda Patil, were tracked down and brought to the Assembly in time for the trust vote that was not to be. The clincher, however, was the audio recordings released by the Congress’ social media team of BJP leaders allegedly offering posts and money to defecting legislators.

After a reported directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an emotional Yeddyurappa told the packed assembly, where all the MLAs were present: “I am going to Raj Bhavan now to submit my resignation. I had hoped to work for the farmers and the poor, but this is god’s will. I have faced agnipaksha all my life, but I will work for their welfare till my last breath. I will tour the state again now and ensure PM Modi wins all 28 Lok Sabha seats next year.”