OPED | Friday, November 6, 2009 | Email | Print | 
No end to BJP’s troubles
Kalyani Shankar
The crisis in Karnataka can only be resolved if the BJP’s central leadership is decisive. The party must save the Government in this southern State no matter what it takes.
Why is the BJP unable to deal with its Chief Ministers from Kalyan Singh to Uma Bharti to BS Yeddyurappa? The party had to replace then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh because he refused to change his style of functioning despite warnings from the central leadership. But the NDA was in power then and the leadership was strong at the central level.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi does not like any interference in the affairs of his State. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also refused to change her style of functioning despite complaints from the BJP local unit and the RSS. She continued her defiance when she dilly-dallied about resigning from her position as the BJP’s legislative party leader. Now the BJP is faced with the same problem with a powerful section in Karnataka rebelling against Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and is on a ‘oust Yeddyurappa mission’. The sad story is that despite getting a foothold in the south for the first time, the BJP is unable to manage the State on account of its own problems.
The present crisis is mainly due to mismanagement and the ego trip of Mr Yeddyurappa and the rebels led by the powerful Reddy brothers of Bellary who are Ministers in his Cabinet. The tussle is for control over the prosperous mineral rich Bellary region and more clout in the Government.
Mr Yeddyurappa, who should have noticed the signs of unrest, should have taken steps to nip it in the bud. On the contrary, he allowed things to simmer that today his own position is shaky. The Reddy brothers have acquired clout because of their ability to fund several legislators during elections and these legislators owe their loyalty to them and not to the party. The dissidents are attacking the Chief Minister and his close associate Panchayati Raj Minister Shoba Karandlaje for interference in other Ministries. It reminds one of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and the alleged influence of his close associate Kusum Rai.
The crisis in Karnataka is also due to the State-level rivalry between BJP general secretary Anant Kumar and Mr Yeddyurappa. In the Brahmin-Lingayat power struggle, it was Lingayat leader Yeddyurappa who won the battle. The party decided to keep Mr Anant Kumar at the centre, leaving the State to Mr Yeddyurappa. With the loyalists accusing Mr Kumar of engineering the present revolt in the State Cabinet, apparently this formula has not worked well.
One of the reasons for the delay in resolving the present crisis is also due to the fact that the BJP central leadership is weak. BJP chief Rajnath Singh is a lame duck president and is on his way out. Leader of the Opposition LK Advani is not as strong as he used to be when a word from him was considered law. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is out of the political scene. The second-rung leadership is fighting for the cake. In such a situation, the State legislators are not ready to listen to the central leaders.
It is money that speaks as most of the rebels had won their seats with the help of the powerful Reddy brothers and what they say they will follow. With a weak leadership at the centre as well as in the State, it is only natural for the crisis to continue.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has also emerged as a player if one goes by the rumours. Insiders say that he, being the business partner of the Reddy brothers, has a lot of influence with them and is keen to destabilise the Yeddyurappa Government.
The first priority for the BJP is to save the Government, irrespective of whether Mr Yeddyurappa remains or goes. So the crisis has to be resolved with a give-and-take attitude. The new formula should include keeping Mr Anant Kumar away from meddling in the affairs of the State. Using the influence of Ms Sushma Swaraj with the Reddy brothers may keep them under check. Ms Swaraj has been nursing Bellary since she fought and lost elections from there. Clipping the wings of Panchayati Raj Minister Shoba Karandlaje may mollify the dissidents. The Chief Minister should undertake a Cabinet reshuffle to maintain a balance and also address the concerns of the rebels. The Reddy brothers should be mollified and Yeddyurappa should do everything in his power to restore the balance.
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