Former Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda will be accommodated in the BJP’s national team as vice-president. A Vokkaliga stalwart, Gowda was a claimant for the Karnataka BJP chief’s post, but the party’s central leadership trusted Dharwad MP Pralhad V Joshi for this role. Gowda had served as Karnataka BJP chief between 2006 and 2010.
Gowda had to be removed as CM at the insistence of his predecessor BS Yeddurappa, who eventually walked out of the party to form his own political outfit. “Party does not want to leave an impression that a Vokkaliga leader has been treated badly by the BJP. He would be brought in the national team,” sources told The Pioneer.
Yeddyurappa’s decision to snap ties with the BJP and intense factionalism in the State unit remains a concern for the party in Karnataka, the first southern State where BJP came to power on its own.
Party leaders admit that BSY might not be able to put up a good show, but he will inflict severe damage ton BJP’s fortunes. BJP had won 110 out of total 224 seats with nearly 34 per cent votes. Its rivals Congress got 80 seats and JD(S) 28 seats.
The BJP has now set for itself the target of winning at least 80-90 seats. “Without Yeddyurappa, this figure is modest. If we hit that mark, we can think of retaining power in Karnataka. A lot would depend on how we will go into the assembly poll,” party leaders said.
Senior leader Arun Jaitley will continue to oversee the party affairs there. He had this responsibility in 2008 as well, and since then party’s chief strategist in actively involved in Karnataka matters.