Rejected in 2023, BJP to field new faces in Karnataka Lok Sabha battle
BJP admits the situation has dramatically changed since Congress unseated it in May. But, the party believes the voters will decide differently in a national election
Determined to make a mark despite losing power in the Karnataka, the BJP is all set to field at least 14 new faces in next year’s Lok Sabha elections, denying tickets to those who have become old or are now seen as electoral liabilities.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources say the party will again rely on the charismatic appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when it takes on the ruling Congress in the battle for Karnataka’s 28 Lok Sabha seats.
It was this “Modi brand” that helped the BJP to sweep 25 of the 28 seats in 2019 even though the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) were in an alliance. The spectacular win in Karnataka contributed handsomely to the BJP crossing the 300-seat mark in the last Lok Sabha contest.
National perspective
The BJP admits the situation has dramatically changed since the Congress unseated it in the May Assembly election. But the party believes that voters, even those who rejected the BJP, will decide differently in a national election.
A BJP leader told The Federal that state politics may cast a shadow on the Lok Sabha elections “but people have a national perspective and they want Modi as their leader".
“In the last Lok Sabha elections, people supported Modi and this will happen in 2024 also,” he asserted. “So, nothing will happen even if the party changes the contestants in all the constituencies. Candidates will win under the BJP and Modi banners," he added.
New faces
The BJP did conduct the same experiment in this year’s Assembly elections but with disastrous results. From being the ruling party, the BJP got reduced to just 66 members in the Karnataka legislature.
But the party is determined to field many new faces in the constituencies it now represents in the Lok Sabha. According to an office bearer of the BJP who did not want to be named, age and anti-incumbency factors will be the main reasons for denying ticket to many of the outgoing MPs.
According to the source, the party has almost decided to do away with 14 MPs who won in 2019.
Some MPs who still have age on their side, however, are said to have become unpopular in their constituencies and will have to make way for new faces. The message from the central leadership has already gone home.
No tickets for these BJP leaders
Former Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda (70), the MP from Bengaluru North, and Shrinivas Prasad (81), the MP from Chamarajanagar (Reserve) constituencies have already announced they won't contest again. Tumkur MP GS Basavaraju (82), Davanagere MP GM Siddeshwara (71), Vijayapur MP Ramesh Jigajinagi (71), Bagalkot MP PC Gaddigoudar (72), Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna (73), Bellary MP Yerabasi Devendrappa (72) and Kolar MP Muniswamy (48) may not get ticket this time.
Anant Kumar Hegde (55) does not wish to contest due to health reasons. Muniswamy may not be fielded due to an internal clash in the party.
Haveri MP Shivakumar Udasi (48) has decided to shun electoral politics. Chikkaballapur MP BN Bachegowda (81) won't be given a chance again as he is over 80 years old. Also, his son Sharat Bachegowda has quit the BJP and is now a Congress MLA.
Dharwad MP Mangala Angadi, wife of former Union minister Suresh Angadi, may not get a ticket either as her relative and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress before the Assembly elections.
A few MPs may see their constituencies shifted. This includes Mysuru MP Pratap Simha and Union ministers Shobha Karandlaje and Prahlad Joshi.
At the same time, some leaders who lost the Assembly elections including V Somanna, JC Madhuswamy, Dr K Sudhakar, Govinda Karajola and CT Ravi, are trying to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Powerful Congress
The BJP is also trying to tap the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and other allied organisations to get suggestions on possible Lok Sabha candidates. The BJP is aware that the Congress in Karnataka is led by two strong leaders – chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar – and that the new government has unleashed some popular welfare policies. Vokkaliga votes have also drifted towards the Congress.
At the same time, the BJP, besides tying up with the Janata Dal (S), will lean on Lingayat votes. This is why it has named party veteran and former chief minister BY Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra as the state BJP president.