BENGALURU: Life has come full circle for BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa in just seven years. The man who installed the first-ever BJP government in the South was jailed on corruption charges and humiliated out of the party. At 73, his comeback as state party president must taste like sweet revenge.
His mandate is to lead the party into the 2018 Assembly elections.
Not many had thought his appointment would come about so soon, given the opposition he faces within the state BJP.
Many were convinced the preference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for a young leadership would come in Yeddyurappa’s way.
But the former chief minister has taken all challenges in his stride, and emerged a winner. What worked for him, his detractors admit, is the absence of an alternative leader to match his popularity and mass appeal.
“At least half-a-dozen aspirants were vying for the post. The number of big leaders opposing his elevation was even higher. But not one of them could produce before the central leadership a substitute for the Lingayat strongman,” says a senior BJP leader.
Among others, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, former deputy chief minister R Ashok, Chikkamagaluru MLA C T Ravi, and Mangaluru MP Nalin Kateel were eyeing the post. Simultaneously, incumbent Prahlad Joshi had been lobbying for a second term.
Known for his restlessness and aggression, Yeddyurappa has his task cut out---bringing the party back to power in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Will he be able to do that? Many in the BJP think he can, as the ruling Congress, under chief minister Siddaramaiah, is on a downslide, and the JD(S) is struggling to remain relevant.
“Elections to Parliament, Assembly and zilla and taluk panchayts have shown the BJP regaining lost ground in Karnataka. All that the BJP leaders need to do is maintain the tempo and consolidate. Yeddyurappa’s popularity beyond his Lingayat community should make his job easy,” said political analyst Harish Ramaswamy.
Party insiders believe Yeddyurappa will have a tough time, given the presence of strong detractors within the party. Shettar, Eshwarappa, Ravi and Ashok are coveting the chief minister’s post, and Yeddyurappa’s elevation is difficult for them to digest.
But Yeddyurappa may still sail through, given that he was chosen by the party’s strongest leaders, Modi and Shah.
BSY TO TAKE CHARGE ON APRIL 14
Yeddyurappa who has been appointed as the state BJP president on Friday, on the day of Ugadi, will take charge from the outgoing President Prahlad Joshi at the party office here at 11.30 am on April 14 This will be followed by a party workers convention at Kanteerava Stadium to celebrate Yeddyurappa’s new responsibility. BJP National President Amit Shah and party’s Karnataka in-charge Muralidhar Rao and other senior leaders are expected to attend the programme.