Nitin Mahajan
The Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a crisis in its only southern stronghold of Karnataka with a national general secretary of the party fomenting the murmurs of rebellion against the state chief minister BS Yediurappa. Sources stated that the matter has been brought to the notice of the top central leadership of the party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief JP Nadda are understood to have been apprised of the situation by the party’s top brass.
It is learnt that Yediurappa has also made his displeasure known to the central leadership over the continued interference in the affairs of the state unit by the national general secretary. The state is considered to be immensely important for the BJP which plans to expand its base in southern India.
Karnataka was the first state to have elected a BJP government in South India. With Yediurappa being it’s face in the state the central leadership is understood to have backed him for the top job and refused and suggestions regarding the change of guard. Party sources stated that the BJP hopes to resolve the differences between the two factions at the earliest so as not to fuel a revival of opposition in the state.
The BJP wants to come back to power in the Karnataka Assembly which has 225 members. Though the Assembly polls in the state are scheduled to take place in 2023 the saffron unit wants to present a United figure before the people and thwart any attempt at rebellion.