Bengaluru: Recent developments within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka have sparked discontent among party members, stemming from a preparatory meeting for the Lok Sabha elections. This meeting, led by National General Secretary B. L. Santhosh and notably lacking the presence of Former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, has generated dissent within the party’s ranks.
The absence of prominent party leaders and open criticism directed at B. L. Santhosh for allegedly sidelining Senior BJP figure and Former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa has deepened the rift. Senior party leader M. P. Renukacharya, in particular, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating that sidelining Yediyurappa and overlooking the influential Lingayat community had contributed to the party’s defeat in the state Assembly elections held in May.
Renukacharya, who refrained from attending the meeting at the state BJP office, emphasised that those who convened the meeting had not played significant roles in the party’s growth. He asserted that the party’s foundation had been laid and nurtured by individuals who now find themselves marginalised within Karnataka’s BJP. Notable absentees from the meeting included Nalin Kumar Kateel, the Former President of the State Party Unit and an MP from Dakshina Kannada District.
There is suspicion among Yediyurappa’s supporters that deliberate efforts were made to exclude him from the gathering. Yediyurappa eventually scheduled a meeting in Bengaluru, but this occurred after his trip to Shivamogga had already been planned, leading to perceptions of a slight.
Renukacharya further contended that the party’s recent electoral setbacks in the state were a direct consequence of neglecting Yediyurappa. He accused those involved of harboring ambitions to control the party without adhering to proper democratic processes, and he pointed out that there were concerns and grievances within the party over these developments.
These internal tensions have raised concerns about leadership transitions and the influence of various factions within the party. The BJP in Karnataka now faces the challenge of resolving these disputes as it prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The dissent within the party has reached a critical juncture, with the potential for division along community lines, particularly among Brahmins and Lingayats. The party has already suffered losses in various categories, including SC/ST, OBCs, and Micro OBCs, and has struggled in several regions of Karnataka. While it has maintained support in the Coastal region, it lacks a solid base in the Old Mysuru region.
It’s worth noting that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bengaluru to congratulate ISRO on the Chandrayaan success, he did not meet with Karnataka BJP leaders at the airport. Instead, MLAs and the Former State President were kept behind barricades at a distance from the common people. While B. S. Yediyurappa and B. L. Santhosh still wield influence within the national party leadership, the ongoing internal conflicts could jeopardise their standing, according to party leaders who abstained from B. L. Santhosh’s meeting.