Karnataka BJP in tumoil ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Following its humiliating defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP is all set to revamp its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but the prospect of dropping around 15 sitting MPs has created heartburn amongst them. Former Union Minister Sadananda Gowda has openly demanded the party to come out with real strategy. Present Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has ridiculed such a move.
Both wants to win 20 seats
As the ruling Congress, enthused by the success, is looking to wrest more than 20 seats out of 28 parliamentary constituencies in the state. BJP is seriously recreating its poll strategy to retain at least 20 out its 26 seats won by them in the last parliamentary elections. So it's clear that both the parties wants to win 20 seats each.
Sources in the BJP says that the party is looking forward to credible fresh faces from the party cadres and from government services. Amid strong rumours that most of the sitting MPs may not even be considered for tickets, Bengaluru North MP and former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has urged the party high command to issue clarification in this regard.
Apprehension by sitting BJP MP's
A total of 13 MPs have approached Sadananda Gowda and he has raised his voice for them, pulling up the party and leaders for remaining tight-lipped and warning that the development will send the wrong signal to the people of the state. Sadananda Gowda stated that there is an attempt to malign about 15 MPs among the total 25 as useless. A systematic attempt has been made to bring down the morale of senior parliamentarians. The state as well as national leaders must intervene and clear the confusion at this stage, he urged.
What's the urgency?
Actually there is no urgency to raise this issue. There is still a year’s time for Lok Sabha elections. At this juncture, MPs are targeted and maligned.  BJP is afraid of the drastic defeat it suffered in the Karnataka Assembly elections.Now the BJP is all set to revamp its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but the prospect of dropping several sitting MPs has created heartburn among those who fears that they may be rejected by the party high command for their non performance. It is necessary that an introspection should take place regarding the defeat in the assembly elections.
Who are those?
Sources in BJP maintained that  Sadananda Gowda, a disgruntled dropped minister and a non performer may top this list. He was not actively participated in assembly campaigning. 
Mangala Angadi, MP from Belagavi, who gave a statement that Jagadish Shettar would win in elections against the BJP candidate would not be considered. After all she own the by election with less margin than expected when her minister husband died of corona. Since then she is inactive.
G.M. Siddeshwara, MP from Davanagere is also likely to miss a Lok Sabha ticket. It is his 4th time contest. This time Congress has made a dent in Davanagere parliamentary constituency as both Shamanur Shivashankarppa and his son Mallikarjun won from there. He is seen more as BS Yediyurappa's loyalist. He is not liked by Santosh gang as he is non corrupt and doesn't bother.
Among other prominent MP's to be dropped are a five time winner G S Basavaraju of Tumakuru, a four time MP from Haveri Shivakumar Udasi, Bagalkot MP PC Gaddigowdar who held it from 2004,  V. Srinivas Prasad MP from Chamarjanagar and Chitradurga MP A. Narayana swamy.
What if results go assembly way?
All possibilities are there for a re run of assembly elections if new faces are are brought. Congress won all seats in assembly elections where senior leaders contested. But BJP had given tickets to 72 new faces in the Assembly elections and lost terribly. However, former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated that the experiment of giving tickets to new faces has backfired for the party. The party think tank is disturbed with the state Assembly results and has apprehension about Lok Sabha elections also. So it is treading safe path to limit the loss. As of now it is estimated that BJP may win only 8 to 10 seats out of 26 it won in 2019 elections and Congress might improve its tally from one to 20 if the same trend continues.

(Dr Mysi Patil is the State Corresspondent}