Lalu-like exit plan for Yeddy

July 26: The BJP is learnt to be persuading a defiant B.S. Yeddyurappa to accept a Lalu Prasad-type arrangement and resign as Karnataka chief minister if the Lokayukta report indicts him “personally” over illegal mining.

Central BJP leaders had so far rallied around the chief minister but now realise their campaign against Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram, named by A. Raja in the 2G scam, in Parliament’s monsoon session starting next week would be blunted if Yeddyurappa stays even after being indicted.

The shift in tack also follows reports from the ground indicating that most MLAs are averse to a dissolution of the Assembly and mid-term polls, something Yeddyurappa has threatened to do if forced out.

Leaked portions of Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde’s report, to be officially released tomorrow, have suggested that Yeddyurappa could be named along with four of his cabinet colleagues and others.

Yeddyurappa is being offered a carrot, though: choose his replacement with the assurance it would be a “stop-gap” arrangement and the next state election would be fought under his leadership, party sources in Delhi said.

If this happens, it will prompt parallels with the way Lalu Prasad resigned as Bihar chief minister at the height of the fodder scam in the 1990s and appointed wife Rabri Devi in his place.

“We have realised that if Yeddyurappa is indicted personally, it will be very difficult for us to back him,” a top BJP leader said in Delhi.

“The BJP has assured us of adequate response after the report is submitted,” Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said on being asked if the Karnataka crisis would weaken the NDA’s tirade against the UPA over the 2G scam.

In Bangalore, Yeddyurappa continued to rebuff quit calls. “Why should I quit?” he said.

Tirupati dash

Yeddyurappa later rushed to Tirupati on his seventh visit since taking over in 2009. The temple authorities stalled the queue of ordinary devotees for an hour so that he could pray. The temple does not normally have an evening VIP break on weekdays.