The anti-BS Yediyurappa “rebellion” in Karnataka has fizzled out again as the BJP central leadership has not been able to find out a “Lingyath” leader of Yediyurappa’s stature even though complaints that his son was remote-controlling the administration and running a “parallel power-centre” are on the rise in the State.
“Dissidents have not received support from central leaders as BSY, despite his age-related problems, is still the biggest vote catcher among the dominant Lingyath community that forms around 11 to 13 per cent vote bank,” said a State leader who identified himself a “BJP loyalist” away from pro or ant-BSY camps.
He went on to admit that BSY’s “family” (son) interference has adversely impacted governance and “image” of the party in the State with the rival camp levelling charges of corruption.
The dissidents in Karnataka, including backward class leader and State Rural Development Minister BS Eshwarappa, have alleged that the Chief Minister’s son BY Vijayendra was running the Government like a de-facto Chief Minister.
Eshwarappa, a bitter critic of the BSY, is also a claimant for the top post.
However, he belongs to “Kurba” community whose undisputed leader in the State is Siddaramaiah, the former Congress Chief Minister.
Eshwarappa had in April complained to the State Governor about BSY’s son meddling in his Ministry.
“When BSY was once forced to move out of the BJP, he damaged the party. But after his return, he not only un-seated Congress in the State but the party also won 25 LS seats in 2019,” said Jagdish Shettigar, a former RSS and BJP leader hailing from Udupi, Karnataka. He pointed to the BJP’s dilemma and its “hands-off” approach vis-a-vis BSY.
In their latest attempt to dislodge BSY, the rebels led by State Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar and MLA Arvind Bellad had sought a meeting with BJP president JP Nadda and State-in-charge Arun Singh. This was their second attempt to reach-out to the Central leaders in a fortnight requesting a change of guard in the State.
The party leaders not only refused to give the rebels any audience but rubbished their appeal by conveying that “ such demand is most unfortunate in the time of Covid19”, sources quoted them as saying.
Bellad, a Lingyath has been aspiring to move up the ladder. Besides, the name of Union Parliamentary Minister Pralhad Joshi, a Brahmin, has also been propped by dissidents for the CM’s post.
BL Santosh, BJP general secretary (organisation), again a Brahmin from Karnataka, who has been, for long, critical of BSY style of functioning also reportedly seen by some as a possible replacement for the BSY (in the fashion of Haryana CM Manohar Khattar.)
Earlier this month, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, a Lingyath, had denied speculation that he is being considered as a replacement for BSY as the next CM.
All the while, BSY remained cool saying “the only thing before him is Covid19, controlling it..”.