From just seven states in 2014 to 17 in 2022, the BJP’s footprint has grown beyond traditional strongholds to conquer new forts like the Northeast. But breaking the Vindhya wall has been difficult so far. In this special series on the BJP’s penultimate pitch, News18 takes a look at the saffron party’s renewed push for electoral success in South India.
In Part 6 of the series, we track the BJP’s journey in Karnataka, the southern state where it has found the most success. But the blooming lotus has also come with its share of thorns.
Karnataka has been the gateway of the BJP to the south. The lotus blossomed in the region under BS Yediyurappa, yet despite being in power four times since 2008, the party faces many challenges.
Bharatiya Janata Party Yediyurappa, but it has had a rocky journey since a rocky outburst surrounded by allegations of corruption, horse-trading and factionalism.
In less than a year, people in Karnataka will be casting their vote for a tough election, which is seen as a tough election, as both the Congress and the BJP grapple with internal factionalism. With the slogan “Congress-mukt Bharat” (Congress-mukt India), BJP leaders express confidence of coming back to power on their own, as they did in 2008 under the leadership of BS Yediyurappa (BSY).
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the BJP would go to the people with its report card and win their hearts. “Let us bloom lotus in the hearts of people and Vidhana Soudha ki third manzil in the 2023 elections” is a statement that reflects the BJP’s hopes of retaining power on its own.
The fight between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah is splitting the Congress
The party is relying on discord within the Karnataka Congress to work to its advantage.
“The fight between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah is leading to a split in the Congress. Also, we are working in the old Mysore region where JD(S) has started losing its charisma. Gram panchayat elections also show how people are moving towards us, clearly an indicator that BJP is what people prefer,” said Captain Ganesh Karnik, BJP spokesperson.
There are some major challenges before the BJP in Karnataka.
As the ruling party, it is expected to have voters seeking their support for a second term, despite the fact that it has not been able to form a united front. Corruption has been another major issue that the BJP has had to contend with.
After replacing the chief minister in less than a year and campaigning with a chief minister who has yet to establish his control over the state unit and government, the BJP has finished its work for the 2023 assembly elections. Is. Yediyurappa’s influence is still there and the party understands that without the support of the leader, it will not be able to reach out to the people. Internal strife and the need for a strong face, especially in the southern Karnataka region, have also affected the BJP’s political plan.
allegations of corruption
A senior BJP functionary, requesting anonymity, told News18 that corruption is one of the major challenges the party has been facing since forming the government in 2008.
“Corruption is a big factor and a matter of concern in the upcoming elections. While the high command is very clear that there is zero tolerance for corruption, where does one begin to tackle the issue? We saw how top officials asked Eshwarappa to step down (as Minister of State): A clear message to all. But the state leadership also needs to take some tough steps.
The Basavaraj Bommai-led government was recently caught in the midst of a major corruption controversy. A civil contractor in his suicide note accused the former minister KS Eshwarappa Charging commission for roadwork project. Soon after, the Karnataka Civil Contractors Association accused government officials of demanding a 40 per cent commission for approving contracts for projects funded by the state. This allegation was followed by another allegation by Lingayat seer Dingleswara Swamy, who also alleged that the Balhosur Math was asked to pay 30 per cent commission to government officials to build guesthouses.
We need to become a new Karnataka BJP which follows the formula of Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas
Interestingly, 310 cases of corruption have been registered and investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against government officials in the last five years. However, the state government has not sanctioned prosecution of these officers in 72 per cent of these cases.
“We will need to make sure we go with a clean, lean, mean team and get the support of our voters. We will need to become a new Karnataka BJP that follows the formula of Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” said another BJP leader on condition of anonymity.
ensure a one-party government
In Karnataka, coalition governments are now the norm, but interestingly, not a single one of them has completed its term. News18 spoke to several senior BJP leaders, who were of the opinion that Karnataka can benefit only when a single party rules the state, as alliances do not work. The first coalition government in Karnataka was formed in 2004 between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) under the leadership of Dharam Singh (Congress). But this government lasted less than two years, when the JD(S) led by HD Kumaraswamy fell due to several defections. The scenario was repeated twice. The present government also stands on the support of 18 MLAs who left the Congress and the JD(S) and joined the BJP.
“There are internal differences. But every party has them. What is important is that we stand united before the people. We use our internal differences as our strength to grow as a party and improve our people management skills. Having said this, we should also ensure that we have a one-party government; otherwise governments will come, falter and go away,” said a senior BJP leader to News18.
To a question on seeking support for alliances or falling short of majority, the leader said this time the BJP high command has come up with a “winning formula – which will ensure that the lotus in Karnataka stands on its own.”
keeping the Lingayat herd together
The BJP understands that a part of its success story in the state has to do with Yeddyurappa. Senior BJP leader is an important factor and the link between Lingayat And a party-a relationship that the BJP cannot tolerate. Yediyurappa has a strong influence on the Lingayats, who make up about 17 per cent of Karnataka’s population. Lingayats have been the main supporter of the BJP, but they are also known to be loyal to Yeddyurappa. The dominance of the Lingayat community is such that it can decide the results of elections in 90 to 100 seats in the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly.
The party also needs to ensure that the 2012 Yeddyurappa-led rebellion does not recur. The former CM was forced to quit the party in 2013 after facing corruption charges. He formed the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and won six seats in the 2013 assembly elections. The Lingayat vote was divided, causing serious damage to the BJP’s chances of forming the government in the 2013 assembly elections. The party, which had won 110 seats in the 2008 elections, was reduced to a mere 40 seats in 2013. After much deliberation, Yediyurappa made a “ghar wapsi” to help the BJP consolidate the Lingayat vote base once again in the 2014 general election. Election. The BJP won 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Since then, the party has been treading cautiously on issues related to Yediyurappa.
However, Yeddyurappa’s chief minister’s post has also been checked. Despite being a four-time CM, allegations of corruption, jail sentences and internal politics led to his resignation four times during his tenure.
In July last year, when Yediyurappa He was asked to step down, the Lingayat community came together to support him and all the saints from various Lingayat monasteries extended their support to BSY. He even warned the BJP central leadership of dire consequences if he replaces him.
However, the BJP solved the problem slowly yet tactfully and kept another Lingayat leader and Yeddyurappa supporter Basavaraj Bommai as the chief minister.
The fact is that the BJP needs Yeddyurappa to win over the Lingayats, yet it does not want to give them too much power or prominence.
Santosh and Yediyurappa
Another issue the BJP leadership is grappling with is the power struggle between the party’s national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh and Yeddyurappa. While the BSY is known as a mentor to many in the state unit, Santosh has also chosen and groomed leaders who today hold powerful positions in the party, in the state as well as in Delhi.
Santosh has been the person who meets many BJP leaders to reach the high command. He has been a direct line between Narendra Modi-Amit Shah and the state leaders. While he has been involved in party affairs from the Centre, his hold on the state BJP unit was strengthened after Yeddyurappa’s exit last year.
The way Yediyurappa ji was treated in 2012, none of us will be able to forget or forgive but at the end of the day we are all dedicated workers
But there have also been occasions when the cold war between the two leaders was seen by all. Sources close to Yediyurappa say that Santosh has tried several times to convince the high command to remove BSY from the post of CM. A Yeddyurappa supporter and state BJP leader said, “It is a wound that will never heal.”
“Clearly there is a cold war going on between the two leaders. The way Yediyurappa ji was treated in 2012, none of us will be able to forget or forgive, but after all we are all dedicated karyakartas (karyakartas). We will suppress differences in the interest of the party. Our target is to bring back BJP with absolute majority and we will work in that direction. That’s what these leaders will do. ,
The recent announcement by the Bommai cabinet to name the upcoming Shivamogga airport after Yediyurappa was seen as a way to gain brownie points with BSY still nursing its wounds. After several Delhi visits and meetings, Yediyurappa was asked to step down by the high command last year and was replaced by Bommai. Bommai’s announcement of the airport’s name is seen as a way to appease the leader and count on his support for the upcoming elections. Yediyurappa, however, asked Bommai to reconsider the decision and “discuss at appropriate forums and name the new airport on the great people who contributed to the development of the state, country and history”.
Winning Candidates Required
The BJP’s winning streak in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa has also given the party the much needed confidence. While many in the party believe that the Karnataka BJP has been able to enter areas where the Congress and JD(S) dominated, the leaders believe that there is a lack of a strong face from the Dakshina Kannada region.
“BJP is focused on strengthening the organization at the base level. Several committees have been constituted to ensure well oiled machinery. We have to identify the winning candidates. Our strike rate in Dakshina Kannada is much lower than in Central and North Karnataka. We need to strengthen Kalyan-Karnataka and we have to work hard there, and the party is finalizing a plan for that,” said BJP spokesperson S Prakash.
Karnik says that the old Mysore region, where the BJP did not have a good presence, is now slowly moving towards it.
“Our biggest challenge is to win 150 seats. We are confident that with the development card in the state and at the Centre, and with our tallest leader Yediyurappa, who is traveling the length and breadth of the state at this age, we will achieve our goal,” he said.
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