As a rehearsal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to expand its voters’ base in Karnataka beyond Lingayat-Veerashaiva community through its ideology, nationalism and development works. With BS Yediyurappa’s exit from electoral politics, the situation arose about a succession plan that can neutralize the dominance of one community, give representation to other major communities including Vokkaligas, dalits, tribals and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In order to push the programme further, the BJP started giving top priority to the Old Mysore region which is called Vokkaliga heartland. The inauguration of Bengaluru-Mysore Expressway, Vande Bharat Express, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Mandya, the naming of Bengaluru Airport after Kempe Gowda and the unveiling of his 109-feet bronze statue were aimed at oiling the wheels of assembly elections in the state of Karnataka. The other plans were like easing out B S Yediyurappa and making seniors like Jagadish Shettar, Lakshman Savadi, KS Eshwarappa (Kuruba) and dozen others to sit out and infuse fresh blood.
On the other hand, the BJP gave tickets to 71 freshers including doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, etc.
While the credit for the succession plan goes to B L Santosh, BJP National General Secretary (organisation), one cannot discount the fact that it is being executed with the stamp of approval of the PM Modi and Amit Shah.
Over 20 legislators have left the saffron party and between yesterday and today, two more MLCs – Ayanur Manjunath (Lingayat) and H Vishwanath (Kuruba) have resigned and joined JDS and Congress, taking the number of seniors and legislators leaving the party to over 30. The party top brass knows the impact of the exodus and has also assessed the damage but with the mountain-like corruption charges, anti-incumbency and retirement of senior leaders, the transition was not an easy affair and was ridden with pain.
With PM Modi, Amit Shah and Party president J P Nadda at the helm of affairs, the troika have made a strong plan to ensure party’s victory in the southern state.
Knowing very well that Karnakata is the gateway to South India for the saffron party, the old guard – BS Yediyurappa, K S Eshwarappa, Jagadish Shettar and Ananth Kumar (deceased) are out of electorate politics and a new breed of leaders who align with Delhi is what the party is working on.
Will the experiment work? Is this the blueprint for the upcoming general elections in 2024? Will it ensure success for the saffron party in the assembly election in the southern state this year? Only time will tell.