B S Yeddyurappa breaking ranks with BJP and floating his own party, another change of guard, the Cauvery issue, busting of a terror module and an ugly incident of three ministers watching porn clippings in the assembly marked the year 2012 for Karnataka.
The year also saw attacks on girls and boys at a home stay in Mangalore, clash between lawyers and police in the wake of men of legal fraternity attacking journalists and exodus of people from north eastern states following rumours of attack.
The Cauvery water sharing row returned to haunt Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu managing to get court orders for release of water on two occasions and Cauvery basin districts plunged into agitation opposing water release.
The first-ever saffron party government in south India continued to be hit by political turmoil following a banner of revolt launched by its strong man Yeddyurappa, who later launched Karnataka Janata Party with the sole aim of decimating BJP in next year’s election.
The other notable events that marked the year was a problem of mounting garbage in the city, which also tarnished the brand name of Bangalore at the international level, resignation drama by ministers and legislators to seek the sacking of D V Sadananda Gowda as chief minister.
There were private complaints pouring against Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, which the Lokayukta court quashed, Law Minister S Suresh Kumar, former chief minister Sadananda Gowda , BBMP Mayor Venkatesh Murthy and former chief ministers H D Devegowda, S M Krishna and Yeddyurappa accusing them of abusing their power.
The year also witnessed an unprecedented scene of ministers and ruling party legislators boycotting the budget session to press for their demand to sack Gowda and make Shettar as chief minister.