Despite defeat in Karnataka assembly polls, BJP remains a divided house

Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP unit is still divided even after the defeat in the assembly elections and the loss of mass base across South India ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party leadership is struggling to foster unity and a spirit of fighting against odds among the cadre. The saffron party which once showed all signs of emerging as a strong force in the region and making inroads in the South Indian states has been badly defeated and is waiting for a momentum to propel it forward.

It has been almost a month since the results were declared on May 14 and the BJP is yet to appoint the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council. The statements of former Chief Minister and BJP MP from North Bengaluru DV Sadananda Gowda and National General Secretary CT Ravi have proved to be another setback for the party.

CT Ravi, who faced defeat against his former right-hand man HD Thammaiah, standing against him as the Congress candidate in Chikkamagaluru constituency, said there is politics of adjustment within the BJP and the party in the assembly polls for this reason. Was defeated

He said, “We have lost power due to our own mistakes. Leaders have compromised and it is because of these few people that the party has lost power. I will not name the leaders, but the politics of accommodation is there and as a result the party has lost power.” Defeated.” where did it go.

Party sources said CT Ravi’s anger was aimed at former CM BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra. Former CM DV Sadananda Gowda’s statements further disappointed the party workers and showed that all is not well within the party. He claimed that 13 MPs have approached him to defame him and the silence of the party high command on the matter is puzzling.

Sadananda Gowda said that an attempt is being made to defame 13 out of 25 MPs by calling them useless. A well-planned attempt has been made to demoralize senior MPs. State as well as national leaders should intervene and clear the confusion at this stage, he demanded.

There is still one year left for the Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, MPs are targeted and defamed. “I don’t know who is behind this. Rumors are being spread that 13 MPs have not done any development in their constituencies and some have fallen ill and will not be given tickets,” he alleged.

Sadananda Gowda advised introspection on defeat. The BJP recently held a meeting of its MLAs and defeated candidates. These candidates have questioned the party’s decision to allot tickets to them at a very late stage and give a wrong signal to the people of the state. However, the party has postponed the scheduled core committee meeting. Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh has taken the opinion of various leaders and is looking at the party high command.

On the other hand, Congress is taking major steps towards consolidating its support in the state. As promised, the grand old party is implementing the first scheme to guarantee free bus travel for women. There is celebration in the Congress as the party has directed the ministers in charge of the districts to celebrate the inauguration of all the five guarantee schemes with great enthusiasm.

The party has filled the entire cabinet quota and has started preparations for the crucial Bengaluru civic polls and the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is targeting and questioning the ideology of the BJP and the RSS. The high command is ensuring coordination between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. The pair of these two is looking dangerous for BJP.

BJP sources said the party was showing no seriousness in trying to understand why the 54 sitting MLAs, including ministers, lost the election. The experiment of issuing tickets to 72 new faces has turned upside down. The deposits of more than 40 candidates were forfeited in the elections. Leaders are bravely trying to put up a front by talking about vote percentage.