BJP is orphaned in Karnataka

The BJP in Karnataka is now almost an orphan. Central leadership doesn't bother about its lost empire. It is their own mistake and need not blame any one. So it is silent on issues of immense magnitude. It faces a piquant situation in its faction-ridden Karnataka unit with three major appointments to be made. One is that of Opposition Leader in Assembly. The other one being the same post in Council. The third is that of party president. 

Leaders of opposition in legislature:

Many legislators are willing to take up the job of the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. There is limited choice in Council.   Only a few leaders expressed their willingness to take up the state president post of the party. The BJP is yet to elect its legislature party leader while the first session of the new Congress government is  successfully concluded. Its really a shame on part of such a delay to elect two new leaders of Opposition for both the houses of legislature. A national party like BJP with sizeable chunk of legislators has totally neglected to appoint LOP's for the first budget session and made them orphans. When elections to Parliament is fast approaching, it lost a wonderful opportunity to counter Congress party in the opening session. There have been extensive consultations held between the central and state leaders  for the past few months over the selection of leader of Opposition but all in vain.

State BJP President not replaced: 

The appointment of the new state president was expected along with organizational restructuring in other states last month. Delhi is keen on giving a fair representation to Lingayat, Vokkaliga, and OBC leaders in the rejig but nothing is happening. Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar  Kateel now holds the post of BJP state president as a failed candidate. It terribly lost the Assembly elections in his President ship. After all he was not at all made for that post. What made its leaders to appoint him is still a misery.  He was a poor organiser neither a manipulator. Former minister and BJP national general secretary CT Ravi removed unceremoniously. However,he could not win in Assembly elections may have contributed to his removal. When they have done this, they could have appointed a State President in the rejig.The reluctance shown by BJP state leaders is also on account of stiff challenges the new chief would face in resurrecting the party’s fortunes after a massive drubbing in the Assembly polls.Sources say some leaders are willing to take up the job if the party is willing to give them a long rope and two consecutive three-year terms. The new president will additionally be burdened with finding “resources to run the party for the next five years.” The party is also conscious of the fact that the new state president must have the ability to take everyone along especially as it now braces up for the  Lok Sabha polls in May next year, besides, Zilla and Taluk Panchayat and BBMP elections. As for the LOP post, many MLAs including former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, former ministers Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Sunil Kumar, R Ashoka, Hubballi-Dharwad West Assembly segment MLA Arvind Bellad were front runners. But they are all lost interest due to the negligence of high command.There was a suggestion to appoint Basavaraj Bommai as leader of Opposition - who carries both administrative experience and political weight to take on the government in the Assembly effectively. But, several state BJP leaders have complained against him for not having pursued graft cases against the last Siddaramaiah government. He has made it clear that he is not an aspirant for that post.On the other hand, Yatnal’s appointment, the party feels, may not go down well with B S Yediyurappa’s camp while the party would want to keep the former CM in good humor at least till the next Lok Sabha polls. Even former minister V Somanna who lost against Siddaramaiah has offered himself to serve as the party president. But nothing has moved the BJP high command. 

BS Yeddyurappa factor:

Now, BJP high command has realised that former chief minister BS Yediyurappa is inevitable for garnering votes. The main mistake they did in lost assembly elections is sidelining BS Yediyurappa. This wrong decision by whom ever, the party to lost the power in Karnataka to Congress party. Now for the parliament elections it does not wants to make a the same mistake.The Karnataka BJP, unable to elect a leader of the opposition, has once again turned to BS Yediyurappa, who was earlier pushed back from politics. The BJP tends to hold onto a leg when necessary and pull it when it is not, is an allegation made by the Congress. It seems there is a logic in its criticism.Highlighting Yediyurappa's emotional response when he quit the Chief Ministerial post, the Congress questioned how the BJP treated him. "Yediyurappa shed tears when he was removed from the post. Later BJP cited his age as the reason. But now, he is left to sit under the sun and rain at to protest. Was his age a factor only when it came to ruling? Is he suddenly 18 now?" the Congress asked, targeting BJP leaders directly.The Congress also questioned the BJP's treatment of Yediyurappa, asking if he was considered as a tissue paper, used when needed and discarded when not in use.Meanwhile, BJP leaders have defended Yediyurappa's role in the party activities."Yediyurappa  is all-time leader of BJP. He was not ousted. Due to the party’s policy on leaders’ age, he himself quit and decided to stay away from electoral politics. Now he is actively taking part in BJP's activities." says many BJP leaders.As a senior leader of the party in the state he is taking the lead in attacking  against the state government. Congress is unnecessarily attacking BJP is a political gimmick. Whatever is the argument, the reality is that still BS Yediyurappa holds a command among his supporters and no one can look down on this aspect.

Waiting in disguise:

It is surprising that why the BJP high command is so secretive in solving these issues. Everyday new names or coming forward for these appointments. There eager about the future of the party. There is no interest among the leaders to prepare the party for the forthcoming general elections. Their fight against the Congress government is just symbolic. It is not impressing the voters. Recent meeting held at Delhi calling all the state leaders also not made any headway or a significant success. Perhaps the issue would be sorted out shortly. Otherwise the party will definitely go into coma stage.

(Dr Mysi Patil is the State Correspondent)