Former CM and Karnataka BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai addressing the assembly in Bengaluru. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
TeaThat old saying that victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan, rings true for the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party’s poor performance in the assembly elections has deepened internal divisions. It’s been more than two months since the election results were declared, but the BJP is yet to elect a leader of the opposition.
The basic problem of Karnataka unit of BJP is lack of unity and factionalism. Till the elections, the powerful central leadership had ensured that these issues did not come out in the open. But the results shattered the BJP central leadership’s image of being “invincible”. The problem of factionalism came to the fore when several leaders, including MLAs and MPs, publicly blamed each other for the party’s defeat.
Embarrassed by this, the party leadership finally identified the 11 mud-slingers and entrusted party veteran BS Yeddyurappa with the responsibility of bringing them under his wing. The public slander has now been overcome to some extent. However, the fact that factionalism in the party is getting worse is reflected in the BJP’s inordinate delay in electing the Legislature Party leader, who will go on to become the Leader of the Opposition. The budget session of the state legislature has been held for six days so far without a leader of the opposition. Meanwhile, the Congress, which forms the government, seized the opportunity to comment on the poor condition of the rival party.
The BJP high command deputed two central observers to seek the opinion of senior leaders, MLAs and MPs on the choice of candidates for the post of Leader of Opposition. Although the process was completed about a week ago, the name of the leader for the post is yet to be announced.
It is not that this important post is lying vacant. The tenure of the outgoing BJP Karnataka president Nalin Kumar Kateel ended in August 2022, but with assembly elections round the corner, the party decided to retain him. A few days back, the party’s central leadership announced new party chiefs in four states, including poll-bound Telangana, but made no mention of Karnataka.
caste ideas
Party leaders attribute the delay in appointments to both these posts to caste and community calculations. The BJP is reportedly trying to accommodate the two major communities of the state – Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Apart from caste changes, the party’s central leadership is believed to be torn between the urgent need to take all leaders on board ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the need to build a strong leadership and organization for the future.
Although the party’s central leadership had indicated a new leadership formation two years ago when Basavaraj Bommai replaced the aging and politically influential BS Yeddyurappa as chief minister, it has yet to rely on Mr. Yeddyurappa for its election campaign in Lingayat-dominated areas. Had to rely on a lot. He had to face the wrath of Lingayats for this decision. Although Mr. Bommai is also from the same community, Lingayats see the change as an affront to Mr. Yeddyurappa, who wields enormous power and considerable influence in the community.
The party’s eagerness to groom a new leadership for its long-term interests may also be hampered for the time being by the Lok Sabha elections. It seems doubtful that the BJP would conduct such an experiment with respect to these two posts, less than a year before the elections. Already, one of its experiments during the assembly polls backfired – the BJP went into the polls without a strong state leader, hoping it could rely on the central leadership. But the results showed that a strong regional face is important to reach out to people and gain their trust.
Whatever may be the political reasons, the delay in appointing the Leader of Opposition has left the state unit of the party embarrassed. This has affected the morale of the BJP, which is already low due to the electoral defeat. There is also concern among the party’s state leaders and workers that delay in these appointments could hamper the BJP’s preparations for the Lok Sabha polls and its efforts towards resurgence.