BENGALURU: The upcoming byelections in the state have presented
BJP with a unique set of problems, which could undermine the party’s bid to remain in power even before the first votes are cast.
To stay at the helm, the party needs to win at least seven seats out of 15, polling for which will be held on December 5. It has fielded disqualified Congress-JD(S) legislators in 13 assembly segments, and the first challenge is to get the BJP cadre behind them on the campaign trail.
This is already proving to be difficult. The disqualified MLAs have bagged tickets which many BJP leaders had been eyeing. Upset supporters of these BJP leaders are now refusing to work for the former MLAs.
Even if BJP’s rank and file fall in line, the candidates are at the risk of facing an angry electorate. These leaders resigned from their assembly membership earlier this year, dealing a severe blow to the Congress-JD(S) government. The resignations could be seen as a bid to disregard to the mandate of voters, though the leaders say they quit in the larger interest of their constituencies.
The rebellion drama led to their disqualification as MLAs, a decision which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court. The 'disqualified MLA' tag might weigh their election campaign down.
Currently, BJP has 106 MLAs. It needs to cross the halfway mark of 112 in the 223-member assembly to retain power. Bypolls to two seats have not been announced yet.
But the biggest threat is the discontent among BJP MLAs and leaders, who lost out to ‘rank outsiders’ in prominence and preference. Some of the disqualified MLAs were earlier highly critical of BJP and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
"These factors will definitely be at play in the bypolls and it is not something which can be easily ignored. BJP workers who fought against disqualified MLAs in their respective constituencies for years feel let down," said a senior BJP leader. "However, one should not forget their (disqualified MLAs’) sacrifices which brought us to power."
Political observer NK Mohan Ram said disciplined members of the BJP cadre might still follow party instructions and work for the victory of selected candidates, but it would be difficult to win the support of on-the-fence voters. "In any election, these voters play a decisive role," he said.
Last month, chief minister BS Yediyurappa offered top posts in state-run boards and corporations to upset leaders to quell the internal rebellion. But most of them rejected the offer. Raju Kage and Sharath Bachhegowda, in fact, have entered the fray as independents.
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