Bengaluru (IANS) | Even after the defeat in the Karnataka assembly elections, the BJP is divided. The infighting within the party is intensifying, as senior leaders are being accused of playing adjustment politics in the state. This development has demoralized the party cadre.
The party has to appoint the leaders of the opposition for the assembly, council. After the term of Nalin Kumar Kateel ends, the party is looking for a strong candidate for the post of state president. It is discussed that the party will also change the state in-charge Arun Singh.
As Congress is getting stronger in the state and successfully sending a message to other states against BJP’s prospects, BJP really needs a booster. More than half a dozen cabinet ministers and more than 40 sitting MLAs faced a crushing defeat in the assembly elections.
According to sources, when it comes to introspection, party leaders who have completely failed to read the mind of the electorate lag behind in evaluation. The Shakti Yojana, which provides free travel to women in the state, has won hearts and has a direct bearing on the BJP’s traditional Hindu vote bank. Using this facility, middle class and poor women are traveling to Hindu pilgrimage sites across Karnataka.
Famous Hindu temples in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and other districts of North Karnataka are witnessing huge rush of devotees since the launch of the scheme. Congress workers in Karnataka are claiming the credit and BJP workers at the grassroots level are finding it very difficult to attract people to the party and retain the cadre.
The BJP is trying to gain an edge by attacking the Congress over the power tariff hike. While the Congress is fully focused on implementing its poll promises and preparing for the Lok Sabha polls, BJP leaders are busy with infighting.
Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has been accused of indirectly playing adjustment politics with the Congress party, had to clarify that the meeting with senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa was just a courtesy call and they are distant relatives. Bommai also clarified that it has no political connection.
Party sources said that to avoid further losses, the party has decided to go back to the old warrior, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. As of now, BJP is short of leaders to challenge CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. Mysore-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha, known for his scathing attacks on anti-Hindutva forces, has been labeled as an immature politician who speaks to the likes of Siddaramaiah.
BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi has been an attacker on the BJP leadership as well as the opposition Congress. Ravi, who lost the assembly elections, is finding it difficult to face Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. He challenged Siddaramaiah to show the letter of undertaking by the Food Corporation of India in connection with the dispute over the supply of rice.
Siddaramaiah published the letter of commitment and asked Ravi to put pressure on the central government instead of playing politics over the poor man’s scheme. These developments indicate that the BJP is clearly on the backfoot in the state.
The BJP has decided to stage a protest during the assembly session in July. All party MLAs will participate in the protest for 10 days. The party also wants to send a message to the Lingayat community that it respects the leaders of the community.
Yeddyurappa was repeatedly stopped by the party from undertaking a statewide tour after asking him to step down as CM. The party completely sidelined him until internal surveys indicated that the Lingayat community, which provided the party’s core strength, had drifted away from him.
Dingleswara Swamiji of Balehosur Math had said that the BJP’s prospects in the state were so poor that even if Yeddyurappa tried to rebuild it, the party would not be able to revive its past glory. At the peak of the PM Modi wave, the party had won 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats. Congress won only one seat. This time Congress is claiming with full confidence that it will win more than 20 seats with the vote bank of Dalit, Muslim, general caste.
Party sources said the high command is closely monitoring the developments in the state and taking note of mistakes. Plans are afoot to recapture Karnataka as it is the gateway for the party to South India. Cadres and workers are eagerly awaiting the move to rebuild the party’s base in Karnataka.
