Is the BJP is staring at a total change of leadership in Karnataka state, is the old guards like B. S. Yediyurappa, K. S. Eshwarapa, and Basavaraj Bommai will have to get back to the centre stage to quell a quiet yet harsh revolution that is unfolding within the party. These questions have spooked the top leadership even at Delhi and if ground signals were to be believed, The party may be already bracing up for a changeover.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) must be deeply worried. Its core values are falling like a pack of cards and what’s more the BJP state unit is in shambles- clear indications are appearing on the horizon that all is not well within the BJP and second line leaders are a dismayed lot in the part. C. T. Ravi, Pratap Simha, Arvind Bellad and many more are emerging by the day expressing dismay over the weak leadership the party present has.
In a recent development, the ruling Congress announced the launch of its second flagship scheme, prompting the circulation of an audio clip on social media. The clip purportedly features BJP MLA Arvind Bellad stating that his party’s defeat was not a result of public sentiment but rather due to internal issues within the party.
Bellad allegedly remarked, “The people did not vote us out. We were defeated by our own party leaders. The party workers were dissatisfied with the performance of the Government when it was in power. Some may attribute the defeat to the lack of Muslim votes for the BJP, but when has the Muslim community traditionally voted for our party? We need to honestly introspect our defeat.”
The audio clip also includes Bellad’s purported criticism of Muslims and Christians for availing reservations provided by the Constitution, which the BJP claims to have rectified. He further mentions the BJP’s loss in 16 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and attributes it to the negligence of other communities in those constituencies.
Sources indicate that Bellad made these statements during a party workers’ meeting.
In the midst of this turmoil, clashes erupted among BJP workers at a public convention in Bagalakote. The workers demanded the removal of party leaders involved in what they referred to as “adjustment politics,” which they believe led to the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi revealed that he had advised Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against discussing controversial issues in public. Joshi urged Simha to address any concerns by approaching the state President.
Former Minister Murugesh Nirani, who also suffered defeat in the elections, along with other former MLAs from Bagalakote District, criticised BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for making derogatory remarks against them regarding their involvement in “adjustment politics.”
At the same time, Former Minister K .S. Eshwarappa commented on the lack of discipline within the party, stating that it has become “influenced” by the Congress. He emphasised the need for internal discussions and cautioned against publicly discussing issues related to “adjustment politics.”
Eshwarappa emphasized that the BJP must uphold discipline and address concerns internally, as the concept of “adjustment politics” has no historical precedent in Karnataka politics.