The BJP national leaders, who are reeling under the impact of the humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections, are yet to get a clear answer to the question as to why the party lost. With the days for the Lok Sabha elections approaching, the BJP’s position in Karnataka can be salvaged compared to the issues that is hovering over it.
Shocked by the poll debacle, the party’s top leaders are yet to come to a firm conclusion on the party’s organisation in Karnataka, the selection of a capable president for the state unit and the appointment of the leader of the opposition in both houses of the legislature.
Delhi leaders are also worried that the Congress Government in Karnataka is not only gaining popularity through its schemes but also becoming stronger organisationally. It is in such a situation that the party, which was supposed to prepare for the approaching Lok Sabha elections, has to fight for its existence. At the same time, the Congress has roped in more than five influential BJP MLAs and it is almost certain that they will not leave the party. The efforts of the leaders to persuade the dissidents do not seem to have borne fruit. The Congress, on the other hand, has begun its preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and has chalked out a strategy to win 20 seats in the state. Despite all these political activities in the ruling party, the BJP is yet to start preparing for the elections. Delhi is waiting for the orders of the leaders.
More importantly, the BJP’s concern is that more than five MLAs have left the party and are in talks with its leaders to join the Congress. Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, has already held two rounds of talks with the rebel BJP MLAs and invited them to join the party. Bengaluru City MLA S. T. Somashekhar, K., Gopalaiah, Byrathi Basavaraju and Munirathna are among the few likely names. Most of them, except Munirathna, have accepted Shivakumar’s invitation. Talks have also been held with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
D. K. Shivakumar has assured that if they join the Congress without any conditions, they will win the upcoming Assembly by-elections and they will be given a suitable position. These MLAs have put a condition that they should be given ministerial berths to join the Congress. BJP MLA from Yellapur in Uttara Kannada District, Shivaram Hebbar, is also planning to join the Congress, it is speculated. Shivakumar is said to have assured that he would focus on the issue of ministerial berths after the Lok Sabha elections.
If this is resolved, the time will be fixed for these five MLAs to join the Congress. According to sources, Shivakumar has also been given the opportunity to protect all interests, including providing necessary funds for the development of the constituency and giving tickets to his supporters in the upcoming BBMP elections. These MLAs are in the final stages of preparations to quit the BJP.
Not just the MLAs, more than 30 former BJP corporators and influential leaders from Bengaluru have also switched over to the Congress, but the party is short of leaders who are capable of holding on to the MLAs and other leaders who are ready to leave the party. Former Minister C. T. Ravi, MP D. V. Sadananda Gowda and some other prominent leaders have tried to convince the dissidents, but to no avail.
Despite all these developments taking place in the BJP, one of the most prominent office-bearers of the BJP National Committee is Former Chief Minister Yediyurappa. Yediyurappa has remained silent. He said the party’s list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections would be sent to the Central Committee soon. But the situation is not what they think in the party, it is widely noted.