BJP Vokkaliga members say JD(S) pact has jeopardised their futures

MYSURU: Days after CP Yogeshwar, former minister and an aspirant for the Channapatna ticket, hit out at party brass for allying with JD(S) and barely 24 hours after the party said its ally will decide on the candidate for the Channapatna bypoll, BJP Vokkaliga functionaries from the community’s bastions of Mysuru, Hassan, Mandya, and Ramanagara are incensed.They say their political future is now in jeopardy.
Sources say the decision to allow JD(S) to pick the candidate for the Channapatna bypoll has demoralised them as JD(S) continues to dominate politics in these districts.
They point out that if the alliance continues, it may make BJP’s Vokkaliga functionar- ies like former MLA Preetham J Gowda (Hassan), former Minister KC Narayanagowda (KR Pet, Mandya), and former MLA AT Ramaswamy (Arakalgud) redundant on their home turfs.
“BJP members from North, Kalyana, Malnad, and coastal areas all support this alliance as there is no threat to their political survival,” said a former MLA. “Vokkaliga functionaries from Old Mysuru region had struggled to build their political careers.
They stood with the party in difficult times. But now, their constituencies are in danger because of this alliance.”
The MLA said the “need of the hour is to go solo and reenergise party cadre”. “HD Kumaraswamy [Union minister and JD(S) state president] has already made it clear that he is a CM aspirant. So, his party will be a challenge for us,” the MLA said.
Krishna Hombal, head of the political science department, University of Mysore, said the alliance has been far more beneficial to JD(S) rather than BJP. “JD(S) is in expansion mode. To retain its fort and gain ground in the rest of the regions, JD(S) joined hands with BJP,” he said. “I don’t think the alliance will last for long due to various factors.”