Yeddy, a great survivor, completes 3 years in office

It has not been a smooth ride for Yeddyurappa who has managed to survive challenges to his leadership from within his own party twice as also threats from Governor H R Bhardwaj in the last three years.

In the last two years, he staved off efforts twice by BJP rebels to remove him from power, including by the powerful mining magnates of Bellary, the Reddy brothers, ministers Janardhana and Karunakara, and then by Bhardwaj, who had recommended imposition of President`s rule in 2010 and this year.

But the Centre rejected the Governor`s report on both occasions.

Besides, he had to tackle Opposition JDS and Congress, which had levelled allegations of corruption and nepotism against him and launched a series of protests.

But Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa, who changed his name to Yeddyurappa adding an extra `D` under the guidance of numerologists, has hung on to power.

Internal fissures and his own style of functioning brought Yeddyurappa to the edge of losing power when Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy led a political coup ferrying more than 40 BJP MLAs outside the state demanding change in leadership in October 2009.