BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai visited the temple town of Tirupati.
Bangalore:
When you think of BJP in Karnataka – the first name and face that first comes to mind is that of BS Yediyurappa. The powerful leader of the influential Lingayat community was the first chief minister of the BJP in the south of India. He took oath as Chief Minister several times – but could not complete his term.
His first resignation from the post came after allegations of corruption – allegations of corruption followed the leader for years.
His last term as chief minister came to an end a year ago, when he announced his resignation after much speculation that the high command wanted him to act in the face of growing dissatisfaction with his style of functioning and allegations of interference in governance by his son. Gone later. , Vijayendra.
But seeing his charisma and following, when the party leadership finally decided that the state would have a new chief minister, he himself went for the one approved by Mr. Yediyurappa. Yediyurappa loyalist Basavaraj Bommai also hails from the Lingayat community and the BJP hoped that Lingayats – generally considered to be the BJP’s vote bank – would be pacified that a member of that community would replace the person who was leaving.
Mr Yediyurappa is 79 years old, which is more than the 75 age limit usually prescribed by the BJP to hold administrative posts. But the party has given him a pass in this regard. And now he has been extended to the membership of the BJP Parliamentary Board.
Karnataka elections are just months away – while Mr Yediyurappa sees his new role as strengthening the party in South India – his main focus should be on his home state.
On Thursday, BJP’s national general secretary and election in-charge of the state, Arun Singh, reached Bengaluru to talk to party leaders. And soon after that meeting, Mr. Yediyurappa and Mr. Bommai left for Tirupati, a temple town in neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Yediyurappa’s team described the trip to Tirupati as a journey just for darshan.
Sources close to the chief minister said the reason was Mr Yeddyurappa’s name on the parliamentary board – and it had nothing to do with speculation that Mr Bommai would be replaced soon.
Karnataka has been facing communal unrest for the past few months – with horrific killings of people from different communities in the volatile coastal region. Mr Yeddyurappa’s own district Shivamogga has also not been spared – it witnessed communal violence on Independence Day.
The violence has put pressure on his successor, Mr Bommai, adding that he will be shown the door and someone new will be brought in to take his place. The chief minister canceled the ceremony to visit communally disturbed areas in late July, the anniversary of his taking oath as chief minister.
Officially denying any change of chief minister. Party spokesperson S Prakash told NDTV, “Any change of leadership at this stage will adversely affect the BJP. These are only rumors spread by vested interests.”
Sources close to Mr Bommai claimed to NDTV that the chief minister had received a call from the PMO a few days ago – asking why this speculation of a change in leadership was increasing and asking the CM to find the source – and to whom. Near was talking against him. Sources said Mr Bommai was reminded during that phone call that Amit Shah had said elections would be held in the state under Mr Bommai’s leadership.
It is said that there is talk of change of leadership in Karnataka from local leaders – who want to see such a change in the state leadership.
The situation was not helped by the leak of audio, in which Law Minister Madhuswamy said that the government was not running, but only management was being done. The minister later said that he was provoked to make the remarks.
With elections only a few months away, the ruling BJP certainly doesn’t need all this right now. The party will have to approach the elections as a cohesive unit, and any resentment needs to be quelled – and quickly. But will it involve a change in leadership? With elections so close, this could be a move that could backfire. But Indian politics is a game of uncertainties.