Yediyurappa's Ekalavya? Why loss of Tumkur seat infuriates Madhuswamy

With Lok Sabha elections looming in the horizon, the discord in the Karnataka BJP's camp is palpable as digruntled leaders are openly lashing out at the leadership in public.

Former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's close aides, including MP Renukacharya, is openly rebelling, while the leader of BSY's home district, K S Eshwarappa, has also publicly expressed his displeasure.

However, some state BJP leaders like Pratap Sinha, CT Ravi, Nalin Kumar Kateel and others, who have not got tickets to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are silent.

These leaders, who are seething inside, dare not speak out against Narendra Modi. Eshwarappa, who slammed BSY, however, stressed that he is not opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Even if my life goes, I will not go against Narendra Modi. If my heart is opened there will be Lord Rama on one side, and Modi on the other."

However, JC Madhuswamy, who was part of BSY's inner circle and his think tank and a former minister, has publicly hit out at the BJP leadership, including Narendra Modi.

Who is Madhuswamy?

Hailing from the Janata Parivar, Madhuswamy was identified with the Janata Parivar till 1988. He joined the Janata Dal when the Janata Party split in 1988. Later, he contested the election as a non-party member and joined JD(U) in 1999. He continued in JDU till 2013, after which he joined BJP.

Later, he went with BSY when he formed KJP and also returned to the BJP fold with BSY. Later, Madhuswami and Basavaraja Bommai were part of BSY's think tank.

Hailing from the Janata Parivar background, Madhuswamy is well versed in socialist ideology and progressive literature. He is an LLB graduate and a good parliamentarian. Madhuswamy, who has been in the news several times due to his rough behaviour, has completely turned against his one-time mentor and guru, BSY.

BSY loyalist

“I was ready to go to Delhi but Yeddyurappa stopped me. He had promised me that he will bring me the form to file my nomination, and so, I said in front of everyone that I am the BJP candidate for Tumkur. Yeddyurappa is the reason why I joined BJP. We gave strength to Yeddyurappa even when KJP was formed. We went after him without questioning him," Madhuswamy said, recalling his loyalty to BSY.

Madhuswamy stood firmly by BSY's side during all his political crisis, and during the Operation Kamala. He had even supported BSY in all his legal struggles. On one occasion, the Bommai-Madhuswamy duo was always with BSY to keep the BJP high command in Delhi informed about the happenings in Karnataka.

Although, he used to refer to the present Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as "a close friend and a good parliamentarian'' when he was the Leader of the Opposition, Madhuswamy is known to be a strong critic of Siddaramaiah. At times, his crude remarks landed him in controversy.

Madhuswamy, who was the minister of parliamentary affairs in the Bommai cabinet, had lost from the Chikkanayakanahalli constituency in the last assembly elections. However, he was very sure of being the BJP candidate for the Tumkur constituency in this election.

Like Ekalavya

Madhuswamy believed in BSY as a guru. “I trusted Yediyurappa as my leader. But he sacrificed me like how Dhronacharya sacrificed Ekalavya,” said Madhuswamy, while accusing him of not fighting to get him the party ticket.

Madhuswamy Kenganni has been replaced by former minister of housing department V Somanna, who has bagged the ticket to contest from the Lingayat-dominated Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency.

Angry with former CM BS Yeddyurappa for "mishandling" the ticket matter, Madhuswamy said, "He cheated me by saying that he will give me the BSY ticket. The one who was sitting at home has been told to get ready for the competition and now he has left me in the middle."

Further he complained, “I had followed Mr. Yediyurappa to KJP when he had quit the BJP earlier. I did not even question him then about his moves. Then, I followed him when he returned to the BJP. But this is what happened to me for trusting him completely."

Madhuswamy has particularly reacted harshly to V Somanna's candidature. Somanna, who tried to pacify him, said, "I was going to visit Madhuswami's house but he told me not to visit him at his home." However, Madhuswamy said, "My mind is not right, I said not to talk in anger. I never said not to come home."

However, he made it clear that he would not support Somanna.

"I will never campaign in favour of Somanna. We don't want outsiders to rule in our district. The voters here don't want him to win. I would have worked if it had been anyone other than Somanna was given the ticket," Madhuswami said.

A sacrifice

According to Madhuswamy, V Somanna will become a sacrificial victim in this election.

He explained, "MP GS Basavaraju, who has a good relationship with Congress, has brought in Somanna to make him a victim. Congress minister KN Rajanna told him that he has friends in both parties and we will win. Rajanna's debt to GS Basavaraj needs to be paid and so, Somanna is brought here. They have all come together to ensure the Congress candidate wins," said Madhuswamy.

Madhuswamy even hit out at Modi saying bitterly that he "doesn't do all the work just by looking at Narendra Modi's face". Not originally from the Sangh Parivar, he has no loyalty to Narendra Modi or the BJP high command, said sources.

Responding to a question from the media, Madhuswamy said, "CT Ravi, Pratap Singh can all work by looking at Modi's face. But I will not work by looking at Modi's face."

Madhuswamy, who is known for his straight talk, has now turned against his political mentor. Will he challenge his guru and chalk out a new path to further his political propects? This remains to be seen.