Young Hindutva firebrands posing big challenge to BS Yeddyurappa in Karnataka
, ET Bureau|
Jan 02, 2018, 08.05 AM IST
BENGALURU: BJP's chief ministerial candidate from Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa is battling rumblings within his party, with insiders floating stories that he will not contest the state assembly polls in April-May, while younger Hindutva firebrands are pitching themselves as better contenders for the top post.
Yeddyurappa is currently midway through a gruelling 75-day election tour — Parivartan a Yatra —- along the lines of the 49-day one that won the party the state of Uttar Pradesh. His followers are unhappy with what they perceive to be attempts to undermine him and his efforts to meet party president Amit Shah's 150-plus target in the 224-member state assembly "both covertly and overtly".
"He will certainly contest from his assembly constituency Shikaripura," a member of Yeddyurappa's inner circle and a senior office bearer of the Karnataka unit, who declined to be identified, told ET. "This is an attempt to undermine him and remove him as the CM candidate, just like the earlier one to get him to change his constituency. It is demoralising for the party workers, despite not being true."
Union chemicals and fertilizers minister Ananth Kumar, considered Yeddyurappa's biggest rival till now, praised him after a visit and meeting with Shah. "Yeddyurappa is the first leader to have reached out to all the 224 constituencies in the state and the party is behind him, not divided like the Congress," he said.
Union skill development minister Anantkumar Hegde and Mysuru MP Prathap Simha are perceived to be stealing Yeddyurappa's thunder and taking the lead, particularly on Hindutva front, which Shah is said to favour. Yeddyurappa has been adopting a moderate line and declining to endorse either of them, though, as state unit president, he hasn't taken any action against them. He is said to be countering the threat by directing his close aide Shobha Karandlaje to match the other two in their fiery rhetoric. "Yeddyurappa is hedging his bets. He is himself the moderate, sober face, and if that's not acceptable, then Shobha should be the young, firebrand alternative," aparty insider said.
Yeddyurappa is currently midway through a gruelling 75-day election tour — Parivartan a Yatra —- along the lines of the 49-day one that won the party the state of Uttar Pradesh. His followers are unhappy with what they perceive to be attempts to undermine him and his efforts to meet party president Amit Shah's 150-plus target in the 224-member state assembly "both covertly and overtly".
"He will certainly contest from his assembly constituency Shikaripura," a member of Yeddyurappa's inner circle and a senior office bearer of the Karnataka unit, who declined to be identified, told ET. "This is an attempt to undermine him and remove him as the CM candidate, just like the earlier one to get him to change his constituency. It is demoralising for the party workers, despite not being true."
Union chemicals and fertilizers minister Ananth Kumar, considered Yeddyurappa's biggest rival till now, praised him after a visit and meeting with Shah. "Yeddyurappa is the first leader to have reached out to all the 224 constituencies in the state and the party is behind him, not divided like the Congress," he said.
Union skill development minister Anantkumar Hegde and Mysuru MP Prathap Simha are perceived to be stealing Yeddyurappa's thunder and taking the lead, particularly on Hindutva front, which Shah is said to favour. Yeddyurappa has been adopting a moderate line and declining to endorse either of them, though, as state unit president, he hasn't taken any action against them. He is said to be countering the threat by directing his close aide Shobha Karandlaje to match the other two in their fiery rhetoric. "Yeddyurappa is hedging his bets. He is himself the moderate, sober face, and if that's not acceptable, then Shobha should be the young, firebrand alternative," aparty insider said.
