The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): In Bengaluru, on March 26th, as dissatisfaction brewed among BJP members in various districts following the declaration of Lok Sabha election candidates, seasoned politician B S Yediyurappa has stepped up, assuring that steps are being taken to smooth over any rifts. Yediyurappa, a former chief minister and a current member of the BJP’s Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee, announced his immediate plans to visit Davangere and Belagavi. His mission is clear: to engage with party workers and leadership to address and resolve any prevailing issues, emphasizing the absence of major complications throughout the state.
Yediyurappa, expressing his vision in Bengaluru, shared his confidence in the BJP securing all 28 seats under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, highlighting the party’s concerted efforts towards this goal. This commitment was evident as he met with outgoing Davangere MP G M Siddeshwar, endorsing Siddeshwar’s wife, Gayatri, as the BJP’s choice for Davangere, amidst voiced opposition from former party members M P Renukacharya and S A Ravindranath.
The dissatisfaction extends beyond Davangere. In Belagavi, the nomination of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar stirred contention among local leaders, who felt overlooked by the decision to favor Shettar, from Hubballi-Dharwad, over local aspirants. Similar sentiments of discontent resonate across several other constituencies including Chikkaballapur, Koppal, Shimoga, Haveri, Tumkur, Bidar, Raichur, and Chitradurga, highlighting the widespread unrest within the party ranks.
Efforts to quell these tensions were evident as Yediyurappa and other senior BJP figures engaged in discussions with Koppal’s sitting MP Karadi Sanganna, who contemplated rebellion after being replaced as the candidate. Additionally, protests erupted in Chikkaballapur against the decision to field former minister K Sudhakar, sidelining local preferences for another candidate.
Yediyurappa’s intervention in Tumakuru to pacify former Minister J C Madhuswamy, discontented over ticket allocations, and the stir in Bidar with BJP MLAs opposing the re-nomination of Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba, underscore the internal challenges facing the party. In Shimoga, the tension peaked as K S Eshwarappa, another party stalwart, declared his independent candidacy against Yediyurappa’s son, spotlighting the intricate dynamics at play within the Karnataka BJP.
As the state gears up for the general elections scheduled in two phases on April 26 and May 7, the BJP’s internal efforts to bridge divisions and present a united front are critical in their quest to retain dominance in all 28 constituencies.