SHIMOGA: The question whether Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa would complete his five year term in office is haunting the people of Shimoga district as former chief ministers Kadidal Manjappa, S Bangarappa and JH Patil, who hailed from the district, could not complete their tenure.
Kadidal Manjappa
Kadidal Manjappa was the chief minister of Old Mysore state for a brief period in 1956 (August 19 to October 31). He was a Gandhian and an advocate.
S Bangarappa
Sarekoppa Bangarappa became the CM in 1990 after unseating Veerendra Patil. He had to resign in 1992 due to differences with the party high command. He represented Sorab constituency of Shimoga district from 1967 to 1996.
JH Patel
Jayadevappa Halappa Patel (JH Patel) of Janata Dal became the chief minister in 1996 after HD Deve Gowda, who was the chief minister from 1994 to 96, was elevated to the PM's post.
Patel, who represented Channagiri constituency in the undivided Shimoga district (now in Davangere), was known for his wit. He was the first to speak Kannada in the Lok Sabha. His tenure as CM was plagued by dissidence. He shocked political leaders by recommending dissolution of the state Assembly, six months ahead of elections, in 1996.
BS Yeddyurappa
Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa, who has been representing Shikaripur Assembly constituency for consecutive six times (execpt in 1999), was the deputy chief minister in the JD(S)BJP coalition government headed by HD Kumaraswamy in 2006. He was also the CM for a week. After the 2008 Assembly polls, the BJP emerged the single largest party in the state and Yeddyurappa took oath as CM of the firstever BJP government in South India on May 30, 2008.
Dissident activities
Yeddyurappa has been facing dissidence within his party from day one. In October 2009, the Reddy brothers of Bellary raised the banner of revolt. After nearly 15 days drama, the problem was solved with the intervention of the central BJP leaders, particularly Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
The CM again had to face revolt by a group of his own party MLAs led by MP Renukacharya. By inducting Renukacharya into the Cabinet, the dissident activities were eased to some extent.
Resentment came to the fore again when the CM expanded his cabinet recently by dropping some independent MLAs. The BJP government was reduced to minority when 17 MLAs, including 11 of the BJP, withdrew their support to the government.
The Governor haas directed Yeddyurappa to prove his majority again in the legislative assembly on October 14.
The people of the district are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of Thursday's vote of confidence and wonder if Yeddyurappa will complete his fiveyear term.