Back in the driver’s seat , former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s suggestion on Tuesday that most of the sitting BJP MLAs would be given tickets and the next Chief Minister would be decided after the election has ruffled many a feathers in the State BJP and may have “unsettled” existing caste equations in the party.
The 80-year-old leader has been brought into prominence again by the BJP after making him pave way for Basavraj Bommai as Chief Minister in July 2021.
The saffron party is keen to use Yediyurappa’s influence on the dominant Lingayat votes in the State. Yediyurappa who has “retired” from active politics and is not to contest the Assembly polls may be appointed the chairman of the BJP’s election campaign committee, sources said.
Senior BJP leaders Murgesh Nirani and Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad (Lingayat) and critic of Yediyurapa and a part of the supporters of Bommai are also uncomfortable with the veteran given a major say in the decision making.
Nirani and Yatnal belongs to Panchamsali sub-sect of Lingayats which is not the same as that of Yediurappa’s sub-cste. There has been a demand from the Panchamsali Lingayat community that one of their leaders should be in the CM’s seat. Bommai is also a non-Panchamsali Lingayat.
The other caste leaders like Vokaligas in the BJP have also been upset by the excessive leverage given to the Lingayat leader. According to reports, BJP’s Karnataka-in-charge Arun Singh and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have spoken to state leaders to defuse the issues.
State BJP leaders are also wary of former Chief Minister’s sons Raghavendra and Y Vijayendra who have been accused of interference in the past in governance when Yediyurappa was the state CM. BJP’s state Vice-President Vijayendra has said if allotted ticket he would like to contest assembly elections.
On Monday in Kalaburgai Yediurappa said barring four to six, all sitting MLAs are likely to get tickets to contest the Assembly polls.
He also said the BJP would decide on who the next Chief Minister would be at the legislature party meeting after the elections.
"There are more chances that most of the sitting MLAs, other than four or six of them, will be given the tickets," the former Chief Minister said in response to a question whether all the sitting legislators will get the tickets.
Asked whether BJP is planning to get leaders from other parties and induct them into the BJP ahead of polls, he said, "Welcome to anyone who wants to join, and those who want to quit, can go out happily....Many are willing to join the party, we will welcome them."