Vijayendra to take over as BJP Karnataka chief on Nov 15 & take on Congress’ DK Shivakumar

First-time MLA BY Vijayendra will take over as President of the BJP Karnataka unit on November 15, and the party has organised a workers rally at the Bangalore Palace the next day in a show of popularity of the 48-year-old leader, projecting him as a formidable counterweight to Congress party’s DK Shivakumar.Vijayendra, younger son of the BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa, hit the ground running on the weekend, visiting the mutts of Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the dominant communities in Karnataka. The BJP is hopeful of turning a new leaf in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by regaining the support of the two large communities.

Many in the party believe it got reduced to 66 seats in the May 10 assembly polls from 104 seats five years ago because many Lingayat voters were displeased with the way Yediyurappa was removed as CM, two years ago. Vokkaligas, on the other hand, voted with their feet for the Congress to amplify Shivakumar’s chances at becoming the CM, as they dumped the JDS in the process.

With Yediyurappa’s son back as the state unit chief and the pre-poll tie-up with the JDS, the BJP hopes to woo the voters it had alienated and retain most of the LS seats, limiting the Congress party’s march. Both Vijayendra and Shivakumar have demonstrated their skills in winning polls.

In the 2019 LS elections, the BJP won 25 seats leaving one seat each for the Congress and JDS as well as an independent backed by it.

Vijayendra, in a chat with the media in Tumakuru on Sunday, said he will visit Delhi soon after the Opposition leader’s election is over, to discuss the preparations for the LS polls. The BJP’s legislature party is expected to meet on Friday where MLAs will formally elect the Opposition leader. The Delhi leadership will finalise the name and the legislature party will only formally announce it in the presence of central observers.

Vijayendra’s appointment has dimmed the chances of Lingayat leaders Basavaraj Bommai or Basangouda Patil Yatnal becoming the Opposing leader. Independent watchers say the party may name a Vokkaliga or an OBC leader for the position. Lobbying has already started with the leaders of these communities expressing their interest.

Former Deputy CMs R Ashoka and CN Ashwath Narayan, both Vokkaligas, are trying hard to land the job. Among the OBCs, former ministers Sunil Kumar Karkala and Kota Srinivas Poojari’s names are also doing rounds.