A day after India’s 76th Independence Day, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who was over 75 a year ago, won. The BJP high command in New Delhi rewarded him with two posts – Member of the party’s highest decision-making body, Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee.
Going against its own decision not to give any political office to leaders above 75 years of age, BJP brought high command Yediyurappa He returned to active politics in view of the crucial Karnataka Assembly elections early next year and the Lok Sabha elections a year later.
There was an immediate celebration in the Karnataka BJP and the state leadership led by the Chief Minister. Basavaraj BommaiYeddyurappa reached his house to congratulate him on his rise.
Yediyurappa is the senior-most leader in the reconstituted parliamentary board as he is one of the founding members of the BJP and was also associated with the Jana Sangh in its previous incarnation. In 1967, he joined the Jan Sangh.
His sudden rise has proved a few things – the importance of being a BSY, as he is popular in political circles; the realization that the ruling BJP is less likely to win the assembly elections due early next year; and their control over Lingayat votes.
According to insiders, the high command had got rid of him with the intention of creating a new leadership base to lead the party in future. But, in the last one year, they have realized that without Yeddyurappa winning Karnataka again will be a tough task and they need to bring him back.
Bommai, who succeeded Yeddyurappa in July last year, has been fighting several battles within and outside the party. His predecessor’s lack of stature and popularity has also added to his woes. The party is split in the middle, with most leaders still identifying with Yeddyurappa.
Bommai is mainly taking the tough step to complete his term first. He has neither been able to take the party or the government under his control. The beneficiary is Yediyurappa.
The main opposition Congress took a jibe at the BJP, claiming that the BJP high command has brought Yeddyurappa a step closer to the Margdarshak Mandal.
The undeniable popularity of former CM and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has also rattled the BJP and the Congress leader’s 75th birthday on August 3 at Davangere, the Congress leader’s 75th birthday, has raised alarm bells in the ruling party’s camp.
BJP is forced to bring Yeddyurappa back from retirement to take on the most powerful and popular leader of Congress. With Yeddyurappa back in the game and Siddaramaiah flexing his muscles, Karnataka politics is once again preparing for a big face-off.
But both the BJP and the Congress are plagued by factions and the individual ambitions of different leaders are likely to affect the overall performance in the assembly elections.
Recently, Transport Minister and BJP’s influential tribal leader, B Sri Ramulu had a blast openly supporting Siddaramaiah for the chief minister’s post. Embarrassed BJP termed it as its “personal view” and the insecurity of the anti-Siddaramaiah camp in Congress led by KPCC president DK Shivakumar has increased.
The BJP often attacks the Congress by reminding people that the Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar fight could cost them dearly.
The situation in Karnataka is so complicated that the BJP and Congress certainly do not like the huge popularity of Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah, but cannot do without them either. Both the leaders have become indispensable in many ways and will have to be accommodated and tolerated in the larger interest.
Yediyurappa, Siddaramaiah and HD Deve Gowda together captured more than 35% of the total vote share in Karnataka, making them invincible.
DK Shivakumar had organized a tricolor yatra in Bengaluru on August 15. This was seen as a counter-argument to Siddaramaiah’s birthday celebrations. But Shivakumar’s show of power lacked the charm and spontaneous support that Siddaramaiah’s birthday attracted.
With elections nearing, the gap between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar is widening, raising concerns in the Congress camp, which is hoping to return to power.
Yeddyurappa’s elevation may not help the BJP in a big way as the chances of him returning as CM are slim if the party manages to retain power. At the most, it can prevent further erosion of the BJP’s vote bank and energize the cadre.
If the state assembly election throws up another hung assembly, with JD-S’s Gowda sitting in the driver’s seat, the innings of both Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah will almost come to an end.
Thus, the Karnataka puzzle continues.
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