Karnataka CM finds his feet, counters his mentor

BANGALORE: Apparently emboldened by his Council poll win, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda seems to be emerging from the shadow of his mentor and predecessor B S Yeddyurappa. Gowda gave evidence of this on Saturday when he contradicted Yeddyurappa’s remark on the issue of collective leadership.He told reporters at Raj Bhavan after his brief meeting with Governor H R Bhardwaj on Saturday that he disagreed with Yeddyurappa,  who had told reporters in Davangere on Friday, “There will be one person heading a family, an institution or a party.”Countering Yeddyurappa, Gowda said, “The party high command is the sole body to have a say on leadership.”Unperturbed by Yeddyurappa’s statement that he would bounce back politically, Gowda said, “I am only concentrating on discharging my duties as the Chief Minister and all other issues will be looked after by the party high command.”In his interaction with the media, Gowda also asserted that he would complete the 17 months of his term after securing an assurance from the party high command.On his visit to Raj Bhavan, he said he met the Governor to express his inability to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Vikramajit Sen as the new Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.