Change of guard in Karnataka soon?

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Is a change of guard in Karnataka on the cards after the budget session of the State Legislature which will be held from March 4 to 30?

A senior BJP leader has not ruled out the possibility and says incumbent Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai could be replaced with someone else keeping in view the crucial 2023 Assembly polls. The name of the successor is a secret and may be revealed by the BJP high command only after March 30. Delhi leaders want to give Bommai the privilege of presenting his maiden budget (and perhaps the last budget) on March 4 being the finance minister, the leader explained.

According to the leader, the BJP top brass is already holding discussions on the change of guard, as was done in Gujarat in view of the assembly polls to be held next year. Delhi leaders have been summoning senior BJP leaders to ascertain their opinion on replacing Bommai with a leader who has the capability to steer the party to victory in the next Assembly polls.

Those who have been consulted by the high command included Jagadish Shettar, Pralhad Joshi and D.V.Sadananda Gowda. The party is in the process of looking for a suitable leader and will also have to decide whether they should go for a new face or an experienced leader with no ‘baggage’ of corruption against them.

The leader said the high command is upset with Bommai because of what they consider his inept handling of the hijab- saffron shawl row that became an international issue and created an impression that the state government was not allowing Muslim girls to enter schools and colleges with the hijab. This issue had become fodder for the opposition Congress Party to attack the incumbent government and portray it as anti-minority. The high command is of the opinion that the issue should have been resolved initially in the Government PU college in Udupi without allowing it to be blown out of proportion by the state, national and international media. Opposition parties reportedly supported the hijab movement to embarrass the incumbent government, say BJP leaders.

The second issue for which Bommai has come under flak is the Shivamogga incident in which a Bajrang Dal was murdered by some miscreants. The post-murder situation was not tackled properly by the CM and even Home Minister Araga Jnanendra needs to be blamed for his inept handling of the all important home portfolio. It looks like the home minister has absolutely no control over the home department with even ministers issuing contradictory statements on many sensitive issues showing the state leadership has no control over them.

“Bommai is definitely a good person but he lacks the acumen to handle the post of chief minister. He has been a successful minister but his performance as CM has been dismal so far. With the kind of governance we have now, it will be very difficult for the BJP to win the elections and come back to power next year.

The controversy over Cabinet expansion and reshuffle has taken a toll of the government’s popularity with lawmakers making a beeline to the CM’s house seeking a berth in the Cabinet.

This has made them a laughing stock as people feel ruling party MLAs are more bothered about their problems than the issues concerning the aam aadmi”, the leader pointed out.

A clear picture on the change if guard if it happens, is likely to emerge after March 10 when the results of the Assembly elections being held in five states will be announced.