On July 28, shortly after he had taken oath as 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, 61, took his first decision at a one-man Cabinet meeting. He allocated Rs 1,000 crore for scholarship for children of farmers of state. With this step, Basavaraj sent out the message that his government will not be confined to caste identities, paid tribute to the legacy of his father the late S R Bommai, and reinforced once again the shrewd, political mind that he is; that has helped him rise in the BJP without deep moorings in the right wing ideology of the party.
A former CM of Karnataka, Bommai Sr served as Union HRD minister in the H D Deve Gowda-led United Front Government in 1997 when he piloted the bill — introduction of education as a fundamental right in the Constitution. This eventually led to the Right to Education Act, 2010.
Basavaraj said he drew inspiration from his father’s principles. “My father was a Royist (follower of Leftist leader M N Roy) and was involved in principled, exemplary politics. He used to take and defeat in his stride”.
Even Basavaraj’s entry into politics did not take usual route. His Assembly elections was in 2008, at the age of 48 after his father died. “Bommai and my father never wanted their children to use their names for growth,” says Mahima Patel, son of former Janata Dal (United) chief minister J H Patel.
He made his foray into politics in 1966-67 as political secretary to J H Patel, when he was the chief minister. This meant a long wait for Basavaraj but he quietly bade his time. One highlight of this backroom stint was 232-km Padyatra that Bommai under took for Mahadayi drinking water project.
In sharp contrast, his predecessor B S Yediyurappa’s promotion of his younger son is seen as one of the causes for his forced departure; even fellow socialist Deve Gowda has led his family follow him into politics and posts.
Basavaraj’s name first surfaced as possible replacement for Yediyurappa in March, this year. Sources said that forced into a corner Yediyurappa and his followers; wanted the fellow Lingayat leader as his replacement instead of Delhi’s choice Prahlad Joshi. A BJP leader said Bommai tried to nudge Yediyurappa in the direction of suggesting his name, but the former CM ignored it at first.
After Yediyurappa quit on July 26, rumours swirled that BJP was leaning towards Arvind Bellad, an MLA from Hubli-Dharwad region with RSS roots. It was then that Yediyurappa made it clear that he would insist on a vote to pick if Bommai was not chosen. He reportedly said he would not take responsibly for the BJP’s performance in the next election.
Having burnt his hands by sidelining Yediyurappa once—the veteran had left, and the BJP floundered at 2013 polls—the central leadership yielded. The fact that that Bommai is an effective communicator in Hindi and English and Kannada was another factor.
In his new role Basavaraj’s biggest challenge will be managing the different pulls and pressures, arising out of both ideological and political pressure on him. The fact that he hasn’t been able to form cabinet a week after he was sworn-in is one sign of pressure on him. There is talk that he might get as many as five deputy CMs as the BJP balances caste and other dynamics.
“He has got the position of CM, now he has to get power of CM”, says Mahima Patel. (IPA Service)
Bringing Students Back To School Safely Is A Challenging Task 