BJP’s Catch-22

The party has succumbed to pressure and let Yeddyurappa stay.

The party has succumbed to pressure and let Yeddyurappa stay.

For a party that boasts of ‘anushasan (discipline)’, this is indiscipline at its worst. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa (BSY) not only defied the BJP brass’ quit order but also set out his own terms, despite being implicated in several scams. The man even said that “only BSY can replace BSY’’ and refused to sacrifice his position—all this, in this season of political corruption, especially when the Congress and BJP want to be seen as holier than thou. Regardless, BSY has had his way and has been allowed to stay.

His defiance has left the BJP caught in a Catch 22. Not only does it have to find a credible replacement, this person will have to hold the MLAs poached from various parties together. And this credible person must also keep the Reddy brothers in good humour. On top of that, there is the upcoming panchayat election.

With the BJP reduced to 106 MLAs after the High Court upheld the Karnataka Assembly speaker’s suspension of 11 rebels and five independents, the party has only a wafer-thin majority, and this could lead to uncertainty in the future.

While voicing their opinion, some party MLAs and MPs—including non-Karnataka MPs—said that the BJP’s central leadership was ill-treating a mass leader. “The corruption charges are being made by HD Kumaraswamy and should be dealt with politically. Why should he be punished?” they asked LK Advani, who was firm that Yeddyurappa’s head should roll. A senior BJP leader insists that Yeddyurappa is here to stay: “He has convinced the leadership about the agenda of the father-son Gowda duo…”

Kumaraswamy has been releasing, in minute detail, information about several alleged irregularities in land deals involving Yeddyurappa and his cabinet. In a tit-for-tat, Yeddyurappa announced that all alleged irregularities will be probed by a retired High Court judge, with a brief to inquire into all denotification decisions dating back to 1994—the year Deve Gowda became Karnataka CM.

The God-fearing Yeddyurappa has played his Lingayat card well, as the community comprises 22 per cent of the state’s total population. Observers say it is an act of political hara-kiri to ignore this community in Karnataka—something that the saffron party is well aware of.

BJPBS YeddyurappaKarnataka