In a smart move, the ruling BJP has made fence-sitters and staunch supporters of KJP president Yeddyurappa — Ministers V Somanna, Umesh Katti and Basavaraj Bommai — to stay back in the BJP. According to political observers, this move has given a jolt to lingayat strongman Yeddyurappa on his way to consolidation.
A BJP source told The Pioneer that the three member crack team of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, newly appointed State party chief Prahlad Joshi and BJP national general secretary Ananth Kumar had convinced the three strong supporters of Yeddyurappa to stay back in the party for which they have agreed.
The source said, “The discussion with the three strong supporters of Yeddyurappa — Basavaraj Bommai, Umesh Katti and V Somanna — has yielded results. They had even attended the party election meeting in Bangalore. We have won a preliminary round in the battle with Yeddyurappa.” The team led by Shettar is also working hard to stop another BJP Minister Murugesh Nirani to crossing over to the KJP.
Umesh Katti, Basavaraj Bommai and V Somanna are very powerful lingayat leaders who had indicated to join the KJP. These leaders, considered as powerful supporters of Yeddyurappa, were fence-sitters and the BJP capitalised the opportunity to convince them. However, the BJP’s initiative which has stopped their move to go with Yeddyurappa was crucial and this move has given a impetus in consolidation effort of the ruling party.
Katti and Bommai attended the consultations of party top leaders with district unit chiefs in Bangalore to take their help in finalising the list of candidates for the Assembly polls in constituencies where there are multiple aspirants. The presence of these leaders at the BJP meeting put an end to speculation that they may switch over to the KJP.
Meanwhile, party leader and Minister CT Ravi told a Press conference that the BJP had decided to focus on the development works taken up by its Government and the failures of the UPA Government, including price rise, during the campaigning. According to him, the Government’s welfare measures and development works have reached 1.25 crore persons in the State. Ridiculing the Congress leaders, he remarked that “the rebellion in the Congress will explode on the day of the release of the party’s list of candidates”.
According to BJP sources, Katti and Bommai were said to be vacillating. However, the two leaders, apparently considering their long-term political interests, have decided to remain in the BJP and contest the elections. Some senior leaders close to Yeddyurappa may also contest the lok Sabha elections in 2014. They feel that the BJP is a better choice than the KJP, which is a regional party. Bommai is considered to be a leader of BJP legislators in North Karnataka and is regarded as a political strategist. His decision to stay put in the party will definitely influence others, including Murugesh Nirani, Raju Gowda and Pratap Gowda Patil. In addition, the BJP leaders who were eyeing for Congress tickets are also disappointed because the party is reluctant to field “outsiders”.
According to BJP sources, by delaying the announcement of candidates seems to be paying dividends. Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, another Yeddyurappa loyalist, is also said to be having second thoughts on quitting the BJP. Nirani has been threatening that he will join the KJP if he is not given ticket for the Jamkhandi Assembly seat. Now, Nirani represents the Bilagi Assembly constituency.
Yeddyurappa has been eagerly waiting for the entry of Murugesh Nirani, Raju Gowda and Pratap Gowda Patil into his party. Yeddyurappa had often said that he had floated the party trusting that all his supporters, including Bommai, Nirani and Katti, will stand by him. However, Yeddyurappa said, “I never invited him to join the KJP. We will give preference to youth, women, minorities and dalits. The next list of candidates will be announced in a few days.”
Katti is known for his immense political clout in Belgaum district that sends 18 legislators to the Assembly. The BJP had won 11 seats from this electorally powerful district. Nirani also has good following in Bagalkot district, while Bommai, with his shrewd political insights, would have been a good resource person for Yeddyurappa ahead of the polls.
The BJP is having a mammoth workers’ convention that would be held in Bangalore on April 8. It would be attended by party national president Rajnath Singh, senior leaders lK Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
In another development, former Minister MP Renukacharya joined the KJP. Renukacharya’s entry into the KJP comes at a time when a few other loyalists of Yeddyurappa, including V Somanna and Umesh Katti, have back-tracked and decided to stay with the BJP. He will contest from his home turf Honnali in Davangere district.
Renukacharya was recently expelled from the BJP and later dismissed from the State Cabinet by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar for making allegations of corruption against senior party leader DV Sadananda Gowda.
Hours after he confirmed his entry into the KJP, Yeddyurappa announced that Renukacharya will contest the Assembly polls from Honnali. He also announced the names of 32 others in the party’s second list of candidates. The first list of 69 candidates was announced last week.
Speaking to reporters, Renukacharya said he had always wanted to join the KJP and the BJP had deliberately expelled him to save itself the embarrassment of a minister quitting the ruling party to join another party.