Karnataka BJP rebels far from falling in line ahead of Modi visit

With just 18 days left for the first phase of polling in Karnataka, BJP leaders are busy dousing rebellions in seven Lok Sabha constituencies that is affecting the image of a party that is desperate to win most of the 28 seats.

Widespread discontentment in rank and file of the party is clearly visible in at least seven of the constituencies, and the state leadership is finding it difficult to handle the rebellion on its own.

The infighting is acutely embarrassing as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Karnataka on April 14 in support of BJP candidates.

Hugely embarrassing

Modi is to address a rally in the Chikkaballapur constituency and hold a roadshow in Bengaluru North where union minister of state Shobha Karandlaje is pitted against academic and former Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Gowda.

According to BJP sources, the party’s top brass is making every attempt to patch up differences between former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra, the state president, on the one hand and their detractors on the other but has run into serious stumbling blocks.

Dynastic politics

In Shivamogga, the BJP has become a laughing stock as former state BJP president KS Eshwarappa is fighting as an independent to denounce the “dynastic” leadership of Yediyurappa and his son-cum-state BJP chief. Eshwarappa roars that his aim is to defeat the Shivamogga BJP candidate, BY Raghavendra, another son of Yediyurappa, and the incumbent MP.

Also in the fray in Shivamogga is Geetha Shivarajkumar, daughter of former chief minister S Bangarappa and wife of Kannada cinema star actor Shivarajkumar.

After home minister and BJP stalwart Amit Shah refused him an audience, Eshwarappa is claiming that the party has given him ‘silent’ permission to contest. Worse, he is even using Modi’s pictures while seeking votes.

Minister in crisis

When Vijayendra asked to reconsider his stand, Eshwarappa, told Vijayendra to step down as the state president and urged Raghavendra to withdraw from the Shivamogga contest.

In Dharwad constituency, union minister Prahlad Joshi has run into serious trouble from the dominant Veerashaiva Lingayat community, said to be the backbone of the BJP. Community leaders accuse Joshi of suppressing them along with other backward communities and disrespecting them.

“Antagonising Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is akin to accepting defeat in the election,” rued a BJP functionary.

Hassan issues

If this wasn’t enough, Fakir Dingaleshwar Swamiji of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Mutt -- a prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seer – has vowed to contest as an independent in Dharwad. He demanded that Joshi be dropped as the BJP nominee but Yediyurappa, himself a Lingayat stalwart, rejected the plea.

Hassan, said to be a fortress of BJP ally the Janata Dal (Secular), is proving to be another headache. BJP general secretary and former MLA Preetham J Gowda turned hostile after the constituency ticket was given to Prajwal Revanna, a grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

Attempts by BJP leaders to placate Gowda have failed. He also refused to even meet Revanna.

Tumkur trouble

In Tumkur, while former minister and Lingayat leader V Somanna is the BJP candidate against Mudduhanume Gowda of the Congress, former minister and Yediyurappa loyalist JC Madhuswamy is upset with Somanna for upstaging him.

Not just this, Madhuswamy not only refused to meet Somanna but recently met the Congress candidate, who himself switched over from the BJP some time back.

Bengaluru too

There is also a problem in Bengaluru North, where BJP MLA ST Somashekar has refused to work for party candidate Shobha Karandlaje. He too is supporting Congress candidate Rajeev Gowda, after having backed Congress candidates in the recent Rajya Sabha polls.

In Uttara Kannada constituency, incumbent MP Ananthkumar Hegde is in no mood to campaign for party’s official nominee, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, the former Speaker. When Kageri tried to meet Hegde, the latter made him wait for hours and then refused to meet him.

Also in Uttara Kannada, BJP MLA Shivaram Hebbar, who absented himself during the Rajya Sabha battle to help the Congress, is said to be supporting the Congress Lok Sabha candidate.

Angry MLA

BJP candidate Dr K Sudhakar is facing problems in Chikkaballapur due to opposition from party’s Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath, whose son Alok Vishwanath was among the BJP aspirants for the seat.

BJP leaders are sure Vishwanath will play spoilsport. “Though Sudhakar attempted to meet Vishwanath on Sunday, the latter did not allow him inside his house,” a party source told The Federal.

Though dissent is visible in some other constituencies too, it appears to be inconsequential. But in these seven seats, the BJP is indeed upset, knowing that such revolts will derail its dreams of winning at least 20 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, its only southern bastion.