Sangh Parivar unhappy over non-representation from OMR in Cabinet

Mysore, Jun 3 (UNI) The non-representation in the Cabinet from the entire Old Mysore Region (OMR) in the first-ever BJP government headed by B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka has saddened the Sangh Parivar.

Though the Parivar was gladdened that the BJP had succeeded in forming a full-fledged government in the state, the non-inclusion of BJP MLAs in the ministerial berth from the region in the Cabinet had upset its morale, according to City BJP president B P Manjunath.

The non-representation had reportedly surprised the Sangh Parivar here, he said adding that of the 62 constituencies in Chamarajanagara, Mysore, Kodagu, Mandya, Hassan and Ramanagara districts, BJP candidates H S Shankaralinge Gowda of Chamaraja, S A Ramadas (Krishnaraja) in Mysore, K G Bopaiah (Virajpet) and Appachu Ranjan in Madikeri constituency of Kodagu had won.

Ironically, Mr Narendraswamy from Malavalli, who had been inducted into the Cabinet was not a BJP man but a Congress rebel. He got the berth by virtue of supporting the government along with five other Independent candidates, Mr Manjunath rued.

It was expected that all the four BJP winners from the OMR would get ministerial berths by making Ramadas and Shankaralinge Gowda as incharge ministers of Mysore and Chamarjanagara districts respectively. However, it appeared that at the last moment the names of Mr Ranjan, Mr Ramadas and Mr Gowda were dropped from the list of probable ministers, he added.

Stating that Mr Ramadas and Mr Gowda were responsible for building the BJP in Mysore city in 1994, he said Mr Ramadas, who was then the Yuva Morcha president, undertook a state-wide tour to mobilise for creating a BJP youth force and out of them 21 were elected in the just-concluded Assembly elections.

Neglecting the two leaders of the city had shocked many. The question was how to face the coming Lok Sabha elections and convince the electorate. How could a minister from some other district be effective as incharge of Mysore and Chamarajanagara districts, he asked.

Mysore needed representation in the Cabinet to counter the growing influence of the Congress in the district with powerful leader like Mr Siddaramaiah, he said, adding that a delegation led by C H Vijyashankar, MP, would meet Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today and urge him to provide representation in the Cabinet from the OMR region.

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