From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, July 22: Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, considered the most powerful Lingayat community strongman, has sent shockwaves and created virtual turmoil by suddenly announcing his retirement from electoral politics eight months before the ensuing Assembly elections in Karnataka and anointing his son B Y Vijayendra as his successor to contest from his pocketburrogh of Shikaripur assembly constituency in Shivamogga district that elected him eight times.
Yediyurappa, who turns 80 next February, said he will be retiring from electoral politics and suggesting that his younger son Vijayendra, who is the present State BJP vice president, be chosen to contest from Shikaripura constituency that sent the former Chief Minister to Vidhana Soudha eight times since his debut in 1983.
“I have decided not to contest in the 2023 Assembly polls from Shikaripura and my son Vijayendra will be contesting from the seat. It is true that there is pressure to field Vijayendra from the Mysuru region,’’ Yediyurappa said making it clear that his son will be contesting from Shikaripura.
"I urge the people of Shikaripura to ensure his victory with a huge margin,” said Yediyurappa.
Yediyurappa’s sudden announcement on his retirement from electoral politics has caused a major flutter and virtual crisis in the ruling party even though it was assumed that he was unlikely to be fielded again due to his age.
Given Yediyurappa’s clout among the politically powerful Lingayat community which is a major factor in at least 130 to 150 out of the State’s 224 assembly constituencies, the absence of the veteran leader as a prominent face in the electoral arena will be a big threat to BJP’s plans for wining at least 150 seats and get absolute majority.
In view of BJP’s aversion to dynasty politics, one wonders what will happen if the ruling party refuses to accommodate Vijayendra from Shikaripur as his elder brother Raghavendra is already a Lok Sabha member. However, Vijayendra is considered is more aggressive and charismatic than Raghavendra.
The Lingayat strongman, who has virtually led the BJP’s defeat by forming his own Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) that helped Congress to come back to power, had been sulking as his younger son has not been given a ministerial berth or key position in the party. Though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has been trying to win over the trust of his predecessor by frequently meeting, Yediyurappa is fully aware that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are not very favourably disposed towards him.
Yediyurappa’s elder son B Y Raghavendra is the MP from Shivamogga for three terms. But it is Vijayendra, who is considered the heir apparent to take over the mantle from the veteran Yediyurappa.
The younger son Vijayendra, who was first made the Bengaluru city Yuva Morcha Secretary and later elevated as Yuva Morcha General Secretary, was appointed State BJP Vice President. He is credited with the BJP victory in the assembly by-elections from Sira and K R Pete. But the BJP has consistently refused to allow him to contest in the assembly polls or make him an MLC. He was keen on contesting from Varuna in Mysuru, the seat once held by Congress former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani, himself a Lingayat, has reacted and said the leadership and guidance of Yediyurappa was very much necessary for BJP if the party was to return to power.
Nirani also welcomed Yediyurappa’s decision to leave his Shikaripur seat to Vijayendra and felt the party needs a dynamic young leader to represent the Shikaripur assembly constituency, which has become a model in the State.