“Right choice at the right time” was how outgoing BJP State unit president Pralhad Joshi described the pick of the former Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, as his successor.
But the Shivamogga MP, who has aggressively campaigned for the post over the last year, will face a series of challenges as he takes charge of the post. He has established himself as the most powerful “mass leader” in the BJP State unit, and that image will be put to test as he prepares the party for the Assembly elections in 2018.
Caste factor
With Mr. Yeddyurappa already announcing his plans to travel through the State and “rejuvenate party units”, it is crucial for him to consolidate the party’s base especially amongst the Lingayat community, which he belongs to and is estimated to constitute about 16 per cent of the State’s population.
“The party zeroed in on him for his fiery spirit. We look forward to him aggressively taking on the Congress, which is offering issues on the platter by the day,” said senior BJP leader and former Minister S. Suresh Kumar. The BJP hopes Mr. Yeddyurappa will front the charge against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, especially at a time when the latter is facing several controversies like the formation of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Corruption taint
Mr. Yeddyurappa had to step down from the post of Chief Minister in 2011, due to corruption allegations. He became a front runner for the party chief post after he got relief in 15 cases under the Prevention Corruption Act. However, he is not clear of all cases.
The outcome in these cases could yet determine the road ahead, especially when he has set himself the task of exposing “corruption in the Congress.” Clearly, the national party leaders could not find an alternative to Mr. Yeddyurappa within the State unit, with the same degree of mass appeal, corruption taint notwithstanding.
The team question
Party insiders also say that an area of concern is Mr. Yeddyurappa’s style of functioning, which has been called by many as “dictatorial”. His success in his fourth term as State party chief would depend on whether he can keep the flock together, reigning in his ego. “By nature, he has not been the kind to take everyone forward together,” said a senior leader. Another leader, on a more optimistic note, said Mr. Yeddyurappa was now a “mellowed man” at 73 and quite a bit of bitter experience under his belt. “He would need to be so to keep the momentum going till 2018,” he said.
