Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement that the BJP would fight the next Assembly elections in Karnataka under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's leadership has caused heartburn to senior party leaders who had dismissed Bommai's anointment as the CM replacing Lingayat strongman B. S. Yediyurappa in July as only a "stop-gap" arrangement.
During his visit to the state last week, Shah not only exuded confidence in Bommai's leadership and praised his vast experience in administration and public life, but also recalled his "long association" with the party, apparently sending out a strong message to both the leaders and the cadres to respect the party's choice.
While the state leaders were surprised to hear such an important announcement coming from the former party chief instead of party president J.P. Nadda, Shah's statement has undoubtedly rankled the senior leaders who were unhappy with the party picking Bommai to succeed Yediyurappa. Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar had refused to join the Bommai cabinet saying he was too "senior" to be part of a junior's cabinet. Shettar, also a Lingayat leader from north Karnataka, rushing to meet Yediyurappa soon after Shah's comments has led to speculations in party circles.
"The Assembly election are still far away and the party will discuss who will lead it only after due consultation and discussions," said Shettar.
RDPR minister K.S. Eshwarappa tried to downplay Shah's statement saying, "I don't know the context of Shah's statement. But we all are in favour of a collective leadership and the party will discuss all these issues at the right time. Bommai will be part of the collective leadership, much like state president Nalin Kumar Kateel who is building the party in the state," said the Kuruba strongman who, too, is cosying up to Yediyurappa after the unexpected announcement by the BJP's master strategist.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi who lauded Bommai's administration stated that it was a norm for the party to fight the Assembly elections under the leadership of the incumbent chief minister. "It is nothing new. The party will utilise the experience of both Yediyurappa and Shettar in the coming days. There is no question of sidelining the seniors," added Joshi.
Revenue minister R. Ashok, too, said there was nothing "unusual" in Shah's statement.
Interestingly, Shah recalled the contribution of former chief minister Yediyurappa during the public event held at Davangere, saying he had ushered in an "era of development" in the state, while once again reiterating that Yediyurappa had stepped down on his own to pave the way for new leadership. Shah's statement comes at a time when Yediyurappa was busy preparing to go on a statewide tour, apparently to "strengthen the party". However, the party leadership is not in favour of the veteran doing a solo trip.
As insiders point out, the party does not encourage parallel power centres and any leader or individual growing larger than the party. The BJP leadership had named a Lingayat successor (Bommai) to Yediyurappa to placate the numerically and politically strong community. However, the party has remained wary of the leaders and cadres gravitating towards any one leader, which was the case during Yediyurappa's tenure as the chief minister. This time, too, the party wants to scuttle Yediyurappa's bid to take control over the party or flex his muscles by embarking on a tour to consolidate his support base.
The developments in the BJP indicate that the high command is still working on a complete power transfer in the state, and is focused on delivering good governance with only 20 months to go for the polls.
Shah was vocal in praising Bommai for making "small but significant beginnings" by giving up VVIP privileges and taking proactive steps to ensure transparency in the system, a stark contrast to the guarded silence of the party leadership during the Yediyurappa rule. Even as Yediyurappa's detractors made allegations of corruption and growing interference in governance by the CM's family (younger son B.Y. Vijayendra) the high command had chosen to keep mum and took no disciplinary action against the party MLAs who openly rebelled against the chief minister.
Soon after Bommai replaced Yediyurappa, the party ensured that Yediyurappa loyalists were kept under check, senior ministers from the Yediyurappa cabinet were dropped and new faces and party loyalists were rewarded with cabinet berths and plum portfolios.
This time, the party diktat to its leaders is to "honour the party decision and the party's choice of leadership”. By mooting Bommai's name, Shah has put a question mark over Yediyurappa's role in the party though the former chief minister seems to be in no mood to get sidelined. "Yediyurappa is keen on ensuring a good political future for his sons and is hoping to lead the party in the next polls, too, to remain politically relevant," says a senior BJP leader.
For now, Bommai is walking the tight rope. He is expected to keep his mentor Yediyurappa in good humour even as he lives up to the expectations of the party leadership.
