Heartburns in BJP as rebel MLAs set to join party

Though the BJP top leaders are keen that the resignations of the rebel MLAs get accepted at the earliest, there is heartburn among its cadre as they feel the entry of these legislators into the party would spoil their chances. Some MLAs are worried that it would diminish their hopes of a ministerial berth as they feel 10 to 12 berths of the total 34 may be earmarked for the defectors.

Fourteen MLAs from the JD(S)-Congress coalition submitted their resignations to Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, while two Independent members have pledged support to the BJP.

The proposed floor crossing has different dynamics at the district and community-level. The BJP MLAs in a few districts like Haveri, where the party is set to include two ruling MLAs into its fold, feel that the “original” party MLAs from there may not get berths as the district is unlikely to get more than two as its quota.

Former MLAs of the party too are concerned about their political careers as they would have to give up their constituencies to the newcomers in the bypolls that would be held later. This was evident with former MLA for K.R. Puram constituency in Bengaluru, Nandish Reddy, and his supporters reportedly expressing reservations over the party’s move to woo Congress MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who at present represents this seat. The uneasiness is more intense in Bengaluru city as six ruling MLAs from the rival camps are set to switch sides.

There is a third group, comprising of hardcore party workers, who are said to be particularly upset with the efforts to include three prominent MLAs — S.T. Somashekhar, Mr. Basavaraj and Munirathna — from Bengaluru city. The party workers find it hard to forget the campaigning just two months ago against Mr. Munirathna on allegations that was connected to the incident where thousands of voter cards were found in an apartment in Bengaluru.

Khanapur unit against possible entry of Anjali Nimbalkar

Khanapur unit of BJP in Belagavi has suspended the party’s ongoing membership drive to protest the possible entry of Congress MLA Anjali Nimbalkar into the party. There is speculation that Ms. Nimbalkar, who skipped the CLP meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday, is to join the BJP after quitting her Assembly membership.

Mr. Vithal Patil, BJP’s Khanapur taluk unit president, held a meeting of party workers on Tuesday and discussed the issue. He announced that the taluk unit had suspended the BJP’s membership drive as a means of protest. He also stated that the taluk unit workers would not take up any party-related work till a clear announcement was made by the party on the issue.

He told media persons that all through her campaign, Ms. Nimbalkar had abused and insulted the BJP and its leaders. “She is not an original BJP or Sangh Parivar leader. How can she be admitted to our party?” Mr. Patil said.