LS polls: Yediyurappa struggles to douse flames as snubbed BJP leaders breathe fire

Even the most experienced BJP leader in Karnataka, BS Yediyurappa, possibly did not foresee the political storm that would follow the announcement of the party’s candidates for 20 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

He had perhaps expected smooth sailing for his chosen candidates, taking shelter in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amith Shah. However, his calculations went awry, and senior party leaders are almost hounding the octogenarian Lingayat leader.

Questioning Modi-Shah

A senior state BJP leader, who is equally shocked by the kind of resentment among party leaders over the choice of candidates, said Yediyurappa may not have anticipated this kind of reaction to “his” choice of candidates.

“Yediyurappa must have thought that no leader in Karnataka would dare question the selection of candidates by the BJP central committee steered by Modi and Shah. However, his calculations were wrong. Leaders such as JC Madhuswamy are not mincing words in criticizing Yediyurappa,” the leader said.

Friends-turned-foes

KS Eshwarappa, a former Karnataka BJP president who claims to have built the party along with Yediyurappa, former minister Madhuswamy, incumbent MP of Koppala, Sanganna Karadi, and former chief ministers Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar are up in arms against the party’s veteran mass leader.

Most of these leaders are accusing Yediyurappa, member of the BJP’s Central Parliamentary Board, of practising dynastic politics. Their supporters are taking to the streets to protest against the alleged injustice done to their leaders.

Opposition in Shivamogga

Significantly, Yediyurappa is facing opposition in his home constituency, Shivamogga, where his friend-turned-foe, Eshwarappa, is now attacking him left right and centre. Eshwarappa, the BJP’s OBC face in the state, has already announced his decision to contest the Shivamogga seat as an Independent, taking on Yediyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra.

His fury is the outcome of his son KE Kantesh not getting a party ticket to contest the Haveri seat. Eshwarappa has declared that he is contesting to free the party of the clutches of Yediyurappa and his sons and ensure that the party goes “on the right path” with Prime Minister Modi’s vision, “as the voice of hundreds of party workers disappointed over the recent development in the party”.

Eshwarappa’s decision to contest as an Independent comes right ahead of Modi’s visit to Shivamogga to address a political rally on Monday. If Eshwarappa refuses to share the dais with Modi in the rally, it will be a big embarrassment to the party, which is known for its “discipline”.

Defiant Eshwarappa

Every BJP leader, including Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, Leader of Opposition R Ashok, and Yediyurappa himself are making all-out efforts to appease the “discontented” Eshwarappa. Recalling his association with Eshwarappa, Union Minister Joshi said he was confident of convincing Eshwarappa, as the high command has larger plans for Kantesh.

However, Eshwarappa clarified that his contest is not against Modi. “I don’t care whether the party issues me a show-cause notice or expels me from the party,” he fumed. “The Prime Minister often criticizes the Congress, citing its ‘dynastic politics’. But in Karnataka, the BJP is going the Congress way. My contest is to ensure that the party goes as per Modi’s vision,” he claimed.

Reacting to this remark, a party leader told The Federal, “I don’t know how Prime Minister Modi and the party will take this observation. It may be detrimental to Eshwarappa’s political prospects.

Dronacharya and Ekalavya

Yediyurappa is facing similar anger from his protégé Madhuswamy, who is disappointed at not getting a ticket from Tumakuru. He compared Yediyurappa to Dronacharya of Mahabharata, who sought Ekalavya’s right thumb as gurudakshina (teacher’s remuneration).

“I trusted Yediyurappa. But he sacrificed me like Dronacharya sacrificed Ekalavya,” Madhuswamy regretted. He did not mince words while criticizing party candidate V Somanna and made it clear that he would not campaign for the latter. He also asked Somanna not to bother visiting him.

Madhuswamy said, at this juncture, it is neither safe for him to stay in BJP, nor is it safe to join the Congress. “For now, I am not thinking of quitting BJP,” said Madhuswamy, who followed Yediyurappa when the later launched the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and returned with him to the BJP.

“This is the reward I got for following him all along,” Madhuswamy fumed.

Sulking Shettar

Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who returned to the BJP from the Congress, apparently at Yediyurappa’s advice, is also sulking. He had sought a ticket from either Dharwad or Haveri. However, Yediyurappa accommodated Joshi and his protégé, another former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Now, Yediyurappa is “forcing” Shettar to contest from Belagavi, but he is not interested. The sitting MP in Belagavi is Mangala Angadi, who is his relative, and Shettar wants that family to be fielded this time too.

“Go Back Shettar”

Meanwhile, opposition is brewing against Shettar in Belagavi. Ramesh Jarkiholi, Eeranna Kadadi, MLA Abhay Patil, Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Dr Vishwanath Patil, and others reportedly held a meeting headed by Prabhakar Kore, where they vehemently opposed Shettar’s entry into Belagavi. Just like Shobha Karandlaje faced opposition in the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, they have started a “Go Back Shettar” campaign in Belagavi.

Yediyurappa, however, has claimed that Shettar has agreed to contest from Belagavi. “We have to wait till the list of candidates is announced to know Shettar’s mind,” said a senior party leader.

BJP office vandalised

Another unhappy man is sitting MP and former chief minister, DV Sadananda Gowda, who has been denied a ticket from Bengaluru North. He has already called on Yediyurappa and is seeking an explanation for being denied a ticket.

Likewise, supporters of the sitting MP from Koppal, Karadi Sanganna, went on the rampage after he was denied a ticket, smashing window panes and wrecking furniture at the Koppal BJP office. The group blocked the entry of Dr Basavaraj Kavatur, the party’s candidate from Koppal, when he came to meet Sanganna at his residence.

This kind of rowdiness in the rank and file of the “disciplined” party, especially at a time when Prime Minister Modi is campaigning in Karnataka, has become a major embarrassment for Yediyurappa. With the Election Commission announcing the poll dates, the tallest BJP leader in the state is now busy fighting the fire on a war footing.