Karnataka polls: BJP confident of returning to power without any regional party’s help, says Vijayendra

Karnataka BJP Vice President BY Vijayendra is confident that “justice will be done” to the Lingayat community in the matter of promises made for special religious status and reservation. He said this could be accomplished if the BJP returns to power with a majority.

“It is a fact that there are a lot of demands from Lingayats and other communities as well… What we are saying is that if BJP comes back to power in Karnataka… If they (Lingayats) have to get any justice, it will only Through BJP,” Vijayendra told News18 in an exclusive interview.

To a question whether this meant that the BJP would fulfill the demands if voted to power, he said, “It does not mean that it will not happen. Ultimately the decision rests with the high command but I am sure justice will be done.

From inspiring youth support for the BJP to shifting the focus from the “Tipu vs Savarkar” narrative to development, Vijayendra said the BJP was confident of returning to power “without the help of any regional party”.

Vijayendra was in Mandya, an important seat in the old Mysore region, considered a stronghold of the BJP and the Congress. The belt has a sizeable population of Vokkaligas, the second largest community in Karnataka after the Lingayats.

Vijayendra is buoyed by victory in the 2019 KR Pete bypoll, a seat where the lotus never blossomed. Candidate KC Narayana Gowda has switched from Congress to BJP and retained his seat. Vijayendra’s involvement in winning the Sira seat gave him the added advantage of discussing his prospects with top leaders.

Mandya holds a special place in the hearts of the BS Yediyurappa family, as not only being the birthplace of former chief minister KR Pete, but the veteran leader has a massive following in the region. That is why Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra has been tasked with mobilizing support for the BJP in a political field largely dominated by the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress.

Asked whether the JD(S) or the Congress are the bigger rivals of the BJP, Vijayendra said if you want a bigger victory, you should not underestimate the opposition. “Both JD(S) and Congress are equally important. When BJP is trying its best, you should not consider the opposition weak. We have to fight both. Our central leadership has a clear strategy and there is no understanding with any regional party.

So, does this mean that the BJP is planning to kill two birds with one stone? “We want to destroy the opposition. People want absolute majority for BJP and the way we have worked at center and state, BJP will surely come to power.

Recently, Vijayendra spoke of using a special “Brahmastra” for every region in Karnataka. Asked what would be his brahmastra for the old Mysore region, he declined to share details. A victory in the old Mysore region is crucial for any party coming to power as it will then have more influence in the region, and potentially form a government in the state.

Mandya, which falls in the old Mysore region, has a strong Vokkaliga belt. The community has traditionally voted in favor of the JD(S) and the Congress. “Vokkaligas have felt let down by JD(S) and Congress, and they are looking for a third option. The BJP has now emerged as their third option. We are here to win the trust of the community and our victory in the Vokkaliga-dominated KR Pete in 2019 shows that they have put their trust in us.

He also answered a question whether the BJP’s election pitch this time was “Tipu vs Savarkar”, but blamed the opposition for building that narrative. “We are contacting people about what we have done in terms of development,” he said.

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