Victory may consolidate BSY’s position in party

The BJP’s thumping victory in Karnataka will give a big boost to the state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa, who has been nurturing the ambition of becoming chief minister again.

The BJP literally decimated the Congress-JD(S) alliance by winning 24 of the 28 seats – the highest tally ever by the party. It had won 17 seats in 2014; 19 in 2009; 18 in 2004 Lok Sabha polls. This time the saffron party has completely swept all regions of the state. The victory is expected to enable 76-year-old Yeddyurappa to consolidate his hold over the party.

Bellweather seat

Besides, the saffron party’s victory in Chincholi Assembly seat (SC reserved) in the bypoll, will help the party shore up its number in the Assembly. Interestingly, success in Chincholi is considered auspicious in political circles as it is widely believed that the party that wins the segment will hold the reins of power.

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BJP’s impressive victory has made the Congress and JD(S) leaders jittery. The Kumaraswamy-led coalition government, which is already on a shaky wicket, will have a tough time
in safeguarding the coalition MLAs.

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The results is not only expected to trigger a fresh war of words between the coalition partners, but there is also likelihood of the disgruntled MLAs crossing over to the BJP in the coming days.

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It is said Yeddyurappa, whose term as state party president has ended, will have his say in the selection of the new chief of the state unit.

He may insist that the party instal one of his close confidants in the post so that he can continue to have control over the party affairs. Yeddyurappa’s rival camp in the party had been lobbying to make a leader with Sangh
background as the state party president.

The BJP state leaders may be trying to own the results, but the party poll managers are of the view that the credit for the victory should go to Modi’s popularity and the confusion in the Congress-JD(S) alliance.

“Karnataka has a dual-voting pattern. People vote on national issues in parliamentary polls. For Assembly elections, local issues matter for them. It is a vote for Modi,” one of the key BJP poll managers said.

In fact, the BJP central leadership was not happy with the state leaders as far as the preparations for the polls were concerned. For, Yeddyurappa and his team were focused more on toppling the Kumaraswamy government just before the polls.

The actual campaign started after Narendra Modi entered the scene, the poll managers pointed out.