Karnataka CM hints at patch-up

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has reacted to dissident Reddy brothers’ demand for a ‘better leadership’ in the state with a unique concession: he shifted his Principal Secretary V P Baligar, whose removal was one of the demands of the dissident camp, to the industries department. I S N Prasad has replaced him as secretary to the chief minister.

Yeddyurappa also agreed in principle to replace his Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandjale, but dug in and said she had to be made the president of the party — something that made the dissidents see red and made them even more determined to fight to ensure Yeddyurappa’s removal.

Baligar, sources in Bangalore said, was “as straight as an arrow” and an IAS officer who had very little patience with MLAs’ demands that rules be tweaked in their favour. Among other posts, Baligar has also been the commissioner of public instruction and private secretary to former HRD minister, the late SR Bommai, at the Centre.