BENGALURU: Did BJP try to net Energy minister D K Shivakumar? Was the Income Tax raid part of a larger political game plan of BJP? -- These are the questions that are being relentlessly asked by political analysts and the common man. Shivakumar, a man who has drawn national attention against the backdrop of Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, added more grist to the buzz by hinting at some major revelations after the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls.
“It would be a havoc if I open my mouth. The tremors would be felt at many places if I speak out now. I will speak after the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat is over,” Shivakumar said replying to questions about reports of BJP trying to draw him into its fold.“Only women who have delivered know the labour pain involved,” Shivakumar added, conveying the political intricacies involved in the developments that are unfolding.
According to sources close to Shivakumar, BJP had made overtures to draw Shivakumar after successfully wooing former Chief Minister S M Krishna, for whom Shivakumar has high regard. BJP had also tried to woo Shivakumar when his claim for KPCC President’s post was rejected. Shivakumar’s move to play the ‘guardian’ role for the 44 Gujarat MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls could have proved the trigger for the I-T raid, sources said.
Though BJP leaders, including party state president BS Yeddyurappa and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, have denied the charge, the principal opposition party’s reluctance so far to attack Shivakumar has only set tongues wagging. BJP leaders had staged protests demanding the resignation of Small Scale Industries minister Ramesh Jarkiholi six months ago. No such protests or vociferous demands for resignation is being seen in the case of Shivakumar.
Shivakumar has maintained good equation with top-rung state BJP leaders and even a couple of key ministers in the Modi government. His confidence to overcome the latest challenge and veiled threats of revelations in the coming days has provided more fodder for rumour mills.