The political equations have changed and so the politics too. Especially, NDA led by BJP has only one goal and that is anyhow bringing Narendra Modi to power. All those corrupt leaders who were thrown out and senior leaders those walked out of party are returning back to BJP. BS Yeddyurappa returned to the BJP and merged his Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), a year after he walked out of the party alleging betrayal. A 70-year-old belonging to Karnataka’s strong Lingayat community returned back to the party unconditionally and will not contest the Lok Sabha elections, due by May this year. His comebacks will definitely strengthen BJP in Karnataka “ten-fold”. When he walked out of party, in the very next assembly election, BJP has faced major defeat in Karnataka. Yeddyurappa’s rejoining was expected ever since Narendra Modi was named BJP’s presumptive PM in September last year. In November, two days before Modi’s rally in Bangalore, posters featuring Yeddyurappa and Modi together surfaced in the city. The 70-year-old politician, a known Modi loyalist, had declared that the Gujarat chief minister should be the prime ministerial candidate over party veteran LK Advani, who led a section in the BJP that insisted Yeddyurappa resign as Chief Minister over charges of corruption. The case against him is still pending. A powerful leader from the influential Lingayat community, Yeddyurappa won the BJP its first government in south India six years ago.
BJP’s gateway to the parliament is full of challenges as each of their moves are closely watched by other parties as well as the citizens of India, who are eligible voters. They need to take each step consciously. BJP’s merger with Yeddyurappa has left everyone fathoming about the dogma with which the saffron party is going to contest. BJP’s prime issue and agenda in forthcoming election is about giving alternate clean government in centre against scamster Congress Party led UPA I and UPA II. Now, BJP’s merged with tainted Yeddyurappa may work well in Karnataka but this move can be a setback to those who are supporting BJP for clean and corruption free politics. Rajnath Singh expresses no qualms in assertion of the party’s compromise with corruption, as the Lingayat’s votebank is decisive in Karnataka’s politics. On the other hand, political parties are not ready to merge before election due to the impulsive nature of the election results.
Lokayukta’s case against then Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa had received too much attention, not only in Karnataka but nationally, portraying him as a villain. The report of the thrashing of the same by the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court and indictment of the Lokayukta for the way they proceeded in this case against Yeddyurappa was never highlighted. With all his defects, he is a man who single handedly erected a political party. He deserves a fair treatment. There is no doubt Yeddy is most experienced and grassroot level politicians and BJP would have stood firm when he was in crises. Now, BJP is taking his support because they have no other option in Karnataka. Moreover, when people of Karnataka have shown that corruption is not an issue for them as they had given 10 per cent votes to his party KJP. Yeddy may not perform like he has performed five years ago but his additional 10 per cent votes can do magic in Karnataka.
BJP has real challenge here, it should ensure that Yeddyurappa does not gain any post easily and should work hard for it. Those in BJP who want to free India from the scam ridden Congress party and yet permitted the return of BSY to BJP will find it to their dismay. AAP is emerging as the third force in political space after 2014 general elections, which will spoil the game and dream of many political parties.
The need of the hour for BJP is to show the integrity of Harshvardhan, Major General Kandhuri and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Probably the voter will feel as betrayed as they felt in when Kalyan Singh was reinducted into BJP. This action seems as repetitive. However, Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah with a Teflon clean image and proven administration skills has so far done a decent job at the helm of affairs.
