'Straight-shooter' Yedyurappa faces 'wily' Gowda

There is a hunt on in Karnataka for the astrologer who advised Karnataka chief minister-designate BS Yedyurappa to drop 'I' from his previous name (Yediyurappa) looking at the result the change has brought about.

But faith in astrology is probably the only topic of conversation he and Janata Dal (S) chief Deve Gowda are likely to share, fear senior BJP leaders.

For Yedyurappa is a Lingayat, whereas Gowda is a Vokkaliga, the two dominant castes in Karnataka which decide electoral fortunes. While Gowda is a master at statecraft or plain crafty, Yedyurappa is described as a straight shooter, with a rather limited understanding of the possibilities of politics.

The BJP, despite the elation at getting chief ministership of a southern state for the first time, was in a pensive mood. A senior BJP leader, when congratulated on the end of the "natak" in Karnataka, replied morosely that the drama had only begun.

"We will have a chief minister who is no match for the wiles of the Gowda family. The next 20 months are going to be a roller-coaster ride," said the leader.

Yedyurappa, five-time MLA, was first elected in 1983 from Shikaripura constituency. It was the first time that six people from the BJP were elected MLAs in a southern state. Yedyurappa has been consistent if uninspiring, and as the party grew, so did his ambition.

His quiet style benefited him in the fight between the two Kumars in the state, Ananth Kumar and K Dhananjaya Kumar, in the 1990s.

With Ananth Kumar now a BJP courtier in Delhi and Dhananjaya Kumar out of the picture, it was left to Yedyurappa to take over as chief of the state unit and later as leader of opposition and deputy chief minister after the 2004 Assembly polls. To his credit, he remained faithful to grassroot politics.

Hailing from a humble background, he has never hidden his religious bent, nor his belief in astrology. According to some, his insistence on cutting a deal with Kumaraswamy even after the imposition of president's rule in Karnataka on October 9 stemmed from his belief that he would be chief minister during the life of the present Assembly.

But he will need more than luck to deal with the Gowda clan in the next 20 months.