Karnataka politicians' prediction, polarisation and predilection

In a way, Shettar is running a minority government because around 15 of the BJP's 117 members in the 225-member Karnataka assembly are openly associating with Yeddyurappa. At least four more assembly members have expressed allegiance to another party floated by B. Sriramulu, a former BJP minister and a loyalist of jailed mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy.

But none of these rebels has quit the party or the assembly nor has the party taken action against them, creating a bizarre situation of what wags comment as "morning BJP, evening KJP".

Shettar's predecessor D.V. Sadananda Gowda fell back on the Mahabharata to describe the situation: "Meals in Pandavas' house and meetings in Kauravas' house".

Though disappointed that only around 15 BJP legislators were openly associating with him, Yeddyurappa kept up the rhetoric of bringing down the Shettar government sooner rather than later. In any case, he said he was determined not to allow Shettar to go ahead with his plans to present a full budget in the assembly in the first week of February.