Is BS Yediurappa, the stormy petrel of Karnataka politics, hell bent on doing the same to BJP in this round of Assembly polls in the same way as his district- mate S Bangarappa did to the Congress party in 1994 polls? Would he be the main tormentor for the ruling BJP? Would he prove his strength as the sole custodian of the powerful Lingayat community in Karnataka?
These are the main questions having been fiercely debated since Yeddiurappa left the BJP and formed Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) to avenge his humiliation about 6 months ago. However, with fast changing political undercurrents and equations, no one has been in a position to make an accurate guess about what exactly would be his “damage inflicting potential” and whether he would indeed prove to be the nemesis for the already fledgling BJP in Karnataka.
Bokankere Siddalingappa Yeddiurappa, popularly known as BSY by his friends and supporters, is an extraordinary case of dogged determination and lust for power. His foray into politics began in 1972 even as he started his association with the saffron clan as Secretary of RSS Shikaripura Unit in Shimoga in 1970. He has represented his segment for a long time and became Karnataka 25th Chief Minister on 30th may 2008. Before too, he had a very small stint as the CM in November 2007 before the coalition government collapsed.
Yeddiurappa has the distinction of being the first BJP Chief Minister of a South Indian State as well as the tag of first BJP CM having been sent to jail on corruption Charges. He has been known for throwing fit in the Assembly even on a trivial issue and the only occasion when he had to cut a sorry figure on the floor of the House was the the then Chief Minister J H Patel dealt with him through the narration of “ Ardha Huchcha ( half mad) story. !!
Karnataka has been a unique case in its last 50 years of political history as it’s has been a witness a few rumbustious and quirky individuals who went on to become the head of the State. In any case, human motivation is not easy to fathom but it becomes a deadly dynamite when it is combined with arrogance and greed and more so when the fate of millions depends on their whims and vagaries.
Karnataka had the distinctions of luminaries like Nijalingappa, Virendra Patil and even JH Patel as tall Lingayat Chief Ministers among the lot of famous, fastidious and fatuous individuals. Thanks to various Mutts and Mosques, Karnataka has also been a queer mix of Maniacs and Mahatmas co-exsting with unease. It is a state representing both ends of the extremes where one set of people have been jaywalking through life while others have been forced to love on the edge. Yet, it has continued to bear the actions of sinners and saints together. !!
Yeddyurappa as a politician has been slightly extraordinary because of his quick-foul temperament as well as extreme case of excessive touchiness. He has been often accused of being dogmatic, stubborn, self-opinionated, cantankerous and also uncompromising. That fierce determination to go on the top made him the Chief Minister of the State. But it also led to his quick down fall as, thanks to inspired intrigues, dedicated sycophants and conscientious frauds who kept on pumping his ‘ king size ego’ to the sky and missed the pulse of time. !
At this point of time, Yeddyurappa stands at an awkward political check post. In 2008, Yeddyurappa got the support of Karnataka voters as the “wronged person” who had been done in by HD Kumaraswamy and played this” betrayal Card to the hilt and brought the BJP back to power with a thumping majority. He also defeated his Samajwadi party rival S Bangarappa in Shikaripura.
Apart from the fact that both Bangarappa and Yeddyurappa belong to Shimoga, both remained Chief Ministers and both had to relinquish that post following corruption charges against them, there are a few differences which keep them in different leagues.
a) Bangarappa belonged to Idiga( toddy tappers) community whose presence is by and large confined to 8-9 districts in Karnataka. Their mainstay is Malnad and Old Mysore and a few sprinklings in coastal Karnataka as well. Yeddyurappa, on the other hand, comes from the powerful Lingayat community which accounts for almost 18 percent votes in the State alone and has huge presence in the Northern Karnataka region.
b) Bangarappa didn’t have the support of many noted Mutts and Pontiffs and yet his party could win 10 seats on its own and damaged Congress candidates at least at 60 segments then. Yeddiurappa during his Chief Ministership, went out of the way to please and appease all those Powerful Lingayat Mutts and doled out huge amount as gift from the State exchequer. These Mutts still play a huge role in swinging the political scene and it is here that yeddy can be quite dangerous to BJP’s prospects.
c) Bangarappa was more like a Monolith and depended solely on his own Charishma and idiosyncrasy. Yeddyurappa, on the other hand, is a more hard-boiled politician and he still has the support of some local chieftains like CM Udasi, MP Renukacharya ,Shobha Karandlaje and a few others who can ensure a few seats to KJP in their areas of influence.
d) Bangarappa’ didn’t enjoy good rapport with bureaucrats due his hey days whereas Yeddyurappa has often broken rules when it came to helping in ‘ Clan officers”. His team of Baligar, Bidri and Boppaiah is s tilll having a lot of indirect support and sympathy for him and that would be crucial in crunch situations.
However, Yeddyurappa would have to face the voters this time around” as the back-stabber and tormentor ‘ of BJP and it remains to be see how he is going to defend himself in that role. He has been talking about “decimating the BJP’ in karnataka. KJP has fielded 200 seats out of the total of 224 constituencies.
KJP may not been able to do a major upset to JD(S) in Old Mysore region but it can play spoilsport not only in the Malnad region but also in Bombay Karnataka region comprising Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot and Uttara Kannada. The BJP had done very well in both 2004 and 2008 assembly polls in this area.
The BJP had won 38 out 56 seats in seven districts of Bombay karnataka region in 2008 and the Congress could get only 14 seats. While the Congress and JD(S) are trying to capitalize on the infighting in the BJP, the ruling party is trying hard to retain its sway in the area with the help of Lingayat Candidates.
Yet Yeddyurappa and KJP can not be written off completely. In fact, KJP may Spring a bigger surprise and foil the plans of Anant Kumar and Jagdish Shetter to salvage BJP’s image in northern Karnataka.
Many political commentators and poll watchers still feel that KJP could actually win 10 to 50 seats on its own but it has the capacity to damage at least 60 to 70 seats of BJP across the State. It remains to be seen if Yeddyurappa emerges as the “ Hero’ or the “villain of BJP” in this round of Assembly polls ..
(posted on April 28, 2013 @ 4.30pm)
(Ajay Jha is a Commentator and Independent Writer and Analyst on Politics, security and Economy of South And West Asia. His email id is: Ajay N Jha <ajayjha30@gmail.com>)
BSY is not backstabber and tormentor as opined by you. It seems you are not fully aware of political developments that sent BSY to jail. It is Anantakumar’s hidden agenda that made BJP to loose its roots in Karnataka. Results on 8th will make you realise your partisan attitude. Please reply.