Can Bommai do it as as campaign panel chief ?

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: In a significant development ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command has appointed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai as the campaign committee chairman.

The move comes as a surprise to many, as Bommai has been in power for less than a year and has not yet established himself as a mass leader. However, the BJP seems to have put its faith in Bommai’s ability to lead the party to victory in the upcoming polls. One of the biggest challenges facing Bommai is winning the hearts of Lingayat/Veerashaiva voters, who form a significant chunk of the population in Karnataka.

The Lingayats/ Veerashaivas have traditionally been a BJP vote bank, and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had great influence over this community for almost four decades. Yediyurappa, who is himself a Lingayat, was instrumental in ensuring that the community continued to support the BJP even when it faced tough challenges from other parties.

However, with Yediyurappa no longer in power, the BJP is looking to Bommai to fill his shoes and ensure that the Lingayats/Veerashaivas continue to support the party. Bommai, who is also a Lingayat, has been meeting with Lingayat/Veerashaiva leaders and trying to address their concerns. The question now is whether Bommai is the right choice for the post of campaign committee chairman.

Yediyurappa’s command over the Lingayat votes was based on decades of hard work and a deep understanding of the community’s needs and aspirations. Bommai, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer and may not have the same level of experience and knowledge. There are also concerns that Bommai’s appointment may not sit well with other Lingayat/ Veerashaiva leaders within the BJP.

There are several other prominent Lingayat/Veerashaiva leaders in the party, and they may feel that they have been overlooked in favor of Bommai. Despite these concerns, many within the BJP believe that Bommai is the right man for the job. They point to his experience as a minister in the Yediyurappa government and his performance as Chief Minister so far.

They also believe that Bommai’s appointment will help to bridge the gap between the party and the Lingayat/Veerashaiva community. The big question now is whether other Lingayat/Veerashaiva leaders within the BJP will support Bommai in his vote hunt. It is still too early to say, but there are indications that some leaders may not be entirely happy with the decision.

However, the party leadership is confident that they can bring everyone on board and ensure that the BJP emerges victorious in the 2023 Assembly elections. In conclusion, the appointment of Basavaraj Bommai as campaign committee chairman for the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka is a significant development for the BJP.

Bommai’s success in winning over the Lingayat/Veerashaiva community will be crucial to the party’s chances in the polls. While there are concerns about his lack of experience, many within the BJP believe that Bommai is the right man for the job.