Bangalore:
"My big smile will last for 22 months," said the man who will formally take over as Chief Minister of Karnataka today. Sadananda Gowda, 54, will have to work hard to keep that famous grin in place. His toughest critics lie within his own party, the BJP.
(Read: Who is Sadananda Gowda?)So he began the day with a prayer and some goodwill - he dropped into a breakfast meeting of all MLAs against him organised at the home of his rival, Jagadish Shettar, who lives bang next door to the new Chief Minister. It was a short walk but a big gesture. Mr Gowda said he asked Mr Shettar and his camp of 55 MLAs to attend his swearing-in ceremony this evening.
Upset that Mr Shettar had been beaten by Mr Gowda in a secret ballot vote yesterday, MLAs loyal to Mr Shettar had planned to boycott the ceremony. "They are coming," said Mr Gowda, after his breakfast diplomacy, flashing his smile. With him, wearing a smile too, was Mr Shettar, who said, "We are discussing yet. We have not made a decision."
Back inside his house, breakfast has stretched to lunch. The latest from those quarters is that the dissident team is still not inclined to attend the swearing in. But Shankar Lingaiah Goud, an MLA from the rebel camp, has listed their demands, "We should be given Finance and Home portfolio. Jagadish (Shettar) should also become the Deputy CM." The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 4.30 pm today.
The 22 months that Mr Gowda has promised to smile through is how long the BJP has before Karnataka votes again. The party is trying to balance caste equations in the state. Mr Gowda is a Vokkaliga, the second-largest community in Karnataka. Mr Shettar on the other hand belongs to the Lingayat community which makes up a powerful votebank.
Having the top two communities represented at the highest levels of government would possibly come as close as the BJP can get to keeping everyone happy. "I have seen more turbulence when I was BJP president (in the state)," said Mr Gowda today.
Mr Gowda will have not just the dissent within his party to contend with, but a larger-than-life mentor in the form of BS Yeddyurappa, who delivered the BJP's first government in the South, but has been forced to resign on charges of corruption. Mr Yeddyurappa made it clear to his party that his exit from the Chief Minister's Office was contingent upon him selecting his replacement. The BJP didn't agree, so Mr Yeddyurappa whipped up a show of strength among his supporters - about 65 MLAs- who said they would back whoever Mr Yeddyurappa wanted as Chief Minister.
"I will not be a puppet Chief Minister," vowed Mr Gowda today. Again, a tough order to deliver. Mr Yeddyurappa told government officials just 48 hours ago that he would "be back within six months."
(Watch: I will not be a puppet Chief Minister, says Sadananda)Mr Gowda has Mr Yeddyurappa's approval for now because he is affable, has never taken on Mr Yeddyurappa and is not a Lingayat. That allows Mr Yeddyurappa to stand as the tallest Lingayat leader in the state.
The dissidents, sources say, are unlikely to take on the party with a formal revolt. Their camp includes some big names - there is the BJP president K Eshwarappa, the Home Minister of Karnataka R Ashok and Shettar himself, who is the Rural Development Minister. Add to this power list the names of the Reddy brothers of Bellary, new entrants in this camp.