The BJP in Karnataka often talks about achieving Mission 150. This means it should win 150 assembly seats of the total 224 in the 2018 elections. State party president B S Yeddyurappa probably has not concluded his public speech or party rallies without mentioning the target. He also keeps reminding that the mandate set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Party National President Amit Shah is to win 150 seats.
But what is the template set by the senior leaders at the two-day state executive meeting of the BJP held in Mysuru to prepare for the elections? The answer drawn is blank. Then the question comes whether the meeting was meant to draw plans for the coming polls. One of the stated aims of the party was to discuss the political scenario in Karnataka. What else it should have done when the elections are just 10 months away? Besides, the morale of party cadres is low following the debacle in the by-elections to Nanjungud and Gundlupet assembly seats.
The senior leaders who addressed the meeting seems to have missed an opportunity to send a strong message to party men that it is in a combative mood to take on the Siddaramaiah led Congress which is still savoring its victory in the by-polls.
Least Prepared
The BJP central leaders, according to party insiders, had come without preparation to address the executive committee meeting. Be it P Muralidhar Rao, party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka or the Union Ministers while talking about the UP election results, did not explain as to how the BJP can replicate such success in Karnataka. There was mere mention of the poll success in various states or local bodies. But it stopped short of discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the state party unit to take on the rival Congress.
The central leaders are well aware that the state unit is facing factional feud and lacks a leader who not only can speak out but speak smart. When such is the ground reality, the Delhi leaders should have given a framework designed exclusively for Karnataka to prepare ground for the elections. Moreover, they should have energized the functionaries, is the opinion of a cross-section of the participants.
A senior BJP MLA, for whom winning elections has become a habit in Bengaluru, said except Pralhad Joshi, MP from Dharwad, none gave any tips to participants as to how to cash in on the image and success of the Modi government and impress voters in Karnataka. Joshi, it is said, explained how he has been talking about the merits of the Centrally-sponsored schemes, in his parliamentary constituency. He also explained how Siddaramaiah as chief minister is projecting the central schemes as the state’s schemes and taking mileage.
The MP, in about 30 minutes, spoke on Digital India revolution, Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, insurance and pension schemes besides reforms in power sector. Such kind of talks and tips from the personal experience of an elected representatives helps in preparing for the polls on a positive note, the MLA said.
Obsession with Cong
But what actually happened at the meeting was talking about the Congress government’s ‘non-performance’, poor management of drought situation, not waiving farm loans, corruption in the government, anti-Hindu stand of the Congress government, scams in purchase of LED bulbs, Yettinahole project , purchase of fodder and the Hebbal streel flyover project among others.
A point to remember is that all these issues and more were raised by the Team Yeddyurappa during the campaign for the by-elections. Besides, even caste permutation and combination were worked out. Still, the results went in favor of Siddaramaiah.
It is obvious now that for the BJP, it is a tough task to take on Siddaramaiah on corruption ground. The BJP has not less than half-a-dozen leaders who were jailed over corruption charges. Siddaramaiah in a forceful voice has been taunting the BJP for all the corruption charges it faced when in power. The saffron party leaders’ voice goes meek while countering Siddaramaiah on this count, the seniors in the party pointed out.
Explaining the ‘futility’ of the state executive meeting, they said the leaders on the dais were talking about the Congress government. But they forgot the fact that the 800 delegates who had converged at the meeting hall were well informed about the state political situation. They had not assembled to discuss or hear the failures of the Congress government but to get food for thought to boost their poll prospects.
Campaign framework for urban areas like Bengaluru and rural Karnataka vastly differ. Bengaluru has been a strong domain of the BJP. The party is talking about drought and fodder scam. But voters do not get connected to such subjects in a city like Bengaluru. The meeting did not apply its mind on these lines, is the argument of those who are critically examining the outcome of the meeting.
Relief
One development which made leaders to breathe a sigh of relief was that Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa did not jibe against each other using the forum. They remained restrained. Of course, the gulf between them continues as the Central leadership is yet to find a way out to settle the ego clash.
The Delhi leaders who had attended the executive meeting did attach importance to the year-old rivalry between the two leaders. But the fact is that the meeting was not convened to discuss the feud between the two leaders but to prepare the ground for facing the elections by boosting the morale of the party cadre.
Despite all these pitfalls, the BJP through its resolutions has given certain hints – while marketing the party to voters, it is going to dub the Congress government as anti-Hindu, promoter of lawlessness and corrupt practices.
While passing the resolution highlighting the Congress’ demerits, the BJP has announced that its next state executive meeting in July would be in Ballari. The party has chosen a district which had become synonymous with corruption, maladministration and goondaism when the BJP was in power. Is this a strategy or a mindless decision, is the question being raised some of the seniors. The coastal districts would have been a better choice where the party can consolidate its position, they said.
In her valedictory, Union Minister Niramala Sitharaman, Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, said people have been voting for the BJP due to, “Remarkable performance, dignified behavior, exemplary conduct” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire Union government. There has not been a single corruption charge against the BJP at the Centre. The people have expressed their solidarity with the BJP and Modi, she said.
Yes. The Karnataka BJP has little choice but to eloquently speak about Narendra Modi and his work while seeking voters’ mandate in 2018. To do this job, the party needs strategists and leaders in Karnataka who can think beyond themselves.