Basavaraj Bommai is the new Karnataka CM

Five-time legislator Basavaraj Bommai will take oath as Karnataka’s chief minister on Wednesday, a decision the BJP took after weighing several factors, including the caste and the region he represents.

Though Bommai will be Karnataka’s 26th CM, the state had many chief ministers who held the post on more than one occasion.

Bommai, 61, was “unanimously” elected on Tuesday as the BJP Legislature Party leader, a process overseen by Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office to Bommai at 11 am in Raj Bhavan.

Bommai listed out Covid-19, floods and improving the state’s finances as his priorities. “I will work day and night to take Karnataka to newer heights on all fronts,” Bommai said, vowing to give a pro-people administration.

With under two years to go for the 2023 elections, the BJP found a safe bet in Bommai as he ticks enough boxes: He is a Lingayat, the party’s traditional support base; he represents Shiggaon in Haveri, a north Karnataka district; he comes with prior administrative experience and he is known to maintain a cordial relationship with leaders from all parties.

Bommai is seen as a trusted aide of outgoing Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, also a Lingayat.

In fact, it was Yediyurappa who proposed Bommai’s name in the legislature party, which was seconded by seven other legislators, leading to Pradhan making the final declaration. Bommai was nursing chief ministerial ambitions since November-December last, it is learnt.

Unlike Yediyurappa, who belongs to the Ganiga sub-sect, Bommai is a Sadar-Lingayat, which is not a dominant group within the Lingayats.

However, by replacing one Lingayat with another, the BJP appears to have been mindful of the impact of making a non-Lingayat chief minister.

The threat of backlash was looming with several Lingayat pontiffs backing Yediyurappa. Plus, Yediyurappa’s tearful exit ran the risk of showing the BJP in a harsh role, antagonising the dominant community.

Bommai will be the 8th chief minister from north Karnataka, a Lingayat-dominated region that supplies over 50 MLAs to the BJP of the 96 constituencies there.

There were demands from within the party that Yediyurappa’s successor should be someone from this region. Bommai emerged over Murugesh Nirani, Arvind Bellad, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Shivakumar Udasi -- all Lingayat names from north Karnataka that were doing the rounds. Yatnal, who came to the legislature party meet clean shaven, left in a huff.

Bommai is passionate about irrigation, a key area for the government. He also represents Karnataka in the GST Council thanks to his hold over financial matters.

Bommai said he would follow in Yediyurappa’s footsteps. “I want to make all his dreams come true through the budget and government programmes.” He added that the party had not imposed any conditions dictating his tenure.