BENGALURU: The appointment of BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa’s younger son BY Vijayendra as the state party president and his loyalist MR Ashoka as the leader of opposition in the assembly has triggered pronounced discontent among functionaries.
Some veterans have already voiced their displeasure over the preference shown to 47-year-old first-time MLA Vijayendra and 66-year-old seven-time MLA Ashoka.The granting of key positions to the two members of the Yediyurappa camp has reportedly unsettled several functionaries in the other group and those affiliated with BJP national general secretary BL Santhosh. Former BJP national general secretary CT Ravi, former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and former ministerV Somanna were the front-runners in the race to replace Nalin Kumar Kateel. However, Yediyurappa reportedly made moves to ensure his son’s and Ashoka’s appointments to the top posts at the last minute.
While Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, ST Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar have openly revolted against the party’s decision by boycotting the legislature party meeting held on Friday in the presence of senior leaders from Delhi, some younger functionaries, including Ravi, Aravind Bellad, CN Ashwath Narayan, and V Sunil Kumar are disheartened but seem to have decided not to express it in public.
The sentiment of neglect was privately echoed by some of these disgruntled leaders. “Since I have become minister several times, I was hoping to get to the top either by becoming the state president or LOP. But now with Vijayendra and Ashoka at the forefront, it looks like there is no chance for not only me but other younger functionaries at least for the next 10-15 years,” said a senior functionary.
“I have been in the party over the last three decades, hoping that it will one day consider me for prominent roles. Now that both the state president and opposition leader are from the camp of Yediyurappa loyalists, whose style of functioning I have been opposing since he took over as CM in 2008, my days in the BJP are numbered,” said a senior MLA from North Karnataka.
The unfolding situation indicates a deepening discord within the state unit as a section which is sulking over the perceived prioritisation of Yediyurappa’s son and his loyalists have decided to wait till the announcement of Lok Sabha polls to decide about the future course of action. There is also a growing concern among the party brass that this might affect the BJP’s performance in the upcoming elections, as potential sabotage looms large.
For instance, Yatnal and Somanna, who command considerable influence among Panchamasali Lingayats and some popular Lingayat mutts, may do more harm than good for the party. It is learned that Yediyurappa, at the behest of top functionaries, may step in to quell dissidence by reaching out to disgruntled leaders to ensure a smooth innings for his son, whose maiden challenge lies in winning the maximum seats in the Lok Sabha polls due for April-May 2024. Senior functionary KS Eshwarappa offered some solace. “BJP is not a one-man party. We will face the elections under a collective leadership to make Narendra Modi the PM again.”
“The discontent among one or two functionaries may not be a problem for the party, as they are not really pan-Karnataka leaders like Yediyurappa. I don’t think the disgruntled ones will dare to harm the party’s prospects in the Lok Sabha polls, knowing that the high command won’t spare them,” said Vishwas Shetty, political analyst.
Some veterans have already voiced their displeasure over the preference shown to 47-year-old first-time MLA Vijayendra and 66-year-old seven-time MLA Ashoka.The granting of key positions to the two members of the Yediyurappa camp has reportedly unsettled several functionaries in the other group and those affiliated with BJP national general secretary BL Santhosh. Former BJP national general secretary CT Ravi, former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and former ministerV Somanna were the front-runners in the race to replace Nalin Kumar Kateel. However, Yediyurappa reportedly made moves to ensure his son’s and Ashoka’s appointments to the top posts at the last minute.
While Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, ST Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar have openly revolted against the party’s decision by boycotting the legislature party meeting held on Friday in the presence of senior leaders from Delhi, some younger functionaries, including Ravi, Aravind Bellad, CN Ashwath Narayan, and V Sunil Kumar are disheartened but seem to have decided not to express it in public.
The sentiment of neglect was privately echoed by some of these disgruntled leaders. “Since I have become minister several times, I was hoping to get to the top either by becoming the state president or LOP. But now with Vijayendra and Ashoka at the forefront, it looks like there is no chance for not only me but other younger functionaries at least for the next 10-15 years,” said a senior functionary.
“I have been in the party over the last three decades, hoping that it will one day consider me for prominent roles. Now that both the state president and opposition leader are from the camp of Yediyurappa loyalists, whose style of functioning I have been opposing since he took over as CM in 2008, my days in the BJP are numbered,” said a senior MLA from North Karnataka.
The unfolding situation indicates a deepening discord within the state unit as a section which is sulking over the perceived prioritisation of Yediyurappa’s son and his loyalists have decided to wait till the announcement of Lok Sabha polls to decide about the future course of action. There is also a growing concern among the party brass that this might affect the BJP’s performance in the upcoming elections, as potential sabotage looms large.
For instance, Yatnal and Somanna, who command considerable influence among Panchamasali Lingayats and some popular Lingayat mutts, may do more harm than good for the party. It is learned that Yediyurappa, at the behest of top functionaries, may step in to quell dissidence by reaching out to disgruntled leaders to ensure a smooth innings for his son, whose maiden challenge lies in winning the maximum seats in the Lok Sabha polls due for April-May 2024. Senior functionary KS Eshwarappa offered some solace. “BJP is not a one-man party. We will face the elections under a collective leadership to make Narendra Modi the PM again.”
“The discontent among one or two functionaries may not be a problem for the party, as they are not really pan-Karnataka leaders like Yediyurappa. I don’t think the disgruntled ones will dare to harm the party’s prospects in the Lok Sabha polls, knowing that the high command won’t spare them,” said Vishwas Shetty, political analyst.
