BJP caught between needs of 2024 Lok Sabha polls and long-term need of alternative leadership in Karnataka

Though mud-slinging in public, post defeat in Karnataka Assembly elections, seems somewhat contained for now, the fact that the divisions in the party are getting deepened by the poll debacle are visible in the inordinate delay in choosing its legislature party leader who would go on to become leader of the opposition. 

The saying that victory has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan holds good for the Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the miserable defeat in the recently-held Assembly polls has deepened the existing divide in the party, bringing to fore the lack of cohesiveness in the party organisation. 

Such is the nature of complication within the party that it is yet to choose a Leader of the Opposition, though nearly two months have passed since the poll results were announced. 

Lack of cohesiveness and groupism has been the fundamental bane of the BJP unit in Karnataka. However, the powerful central leadership had managed to ensure that it did not come out in the open. But after the ‘invincible’ image of the BJP central leadership was shattered by the results of the Karnataka Assembly elections, groupism has again taken centrestage in the party. This was visible with several leaders, including MLAs and MPs, publicly blaming one another for the party’s defeat. 

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Embarrassed, the party leadership identified 11 leaders engaged in mud-slinging and entrusted party veteran leader B. S. Yediyurappa with the task of making them fall in line.  

Though mud-slinging in public seems somewhat contained for now, the fact that the divisions in the party are getting deepened by the poll debacle are visible in the inordinate delay in choosing its legislature party leader who would go on to become leader of the opposition. 

The party is facing embarrassment as the budget session of the State legislature is being held without a Leader of the Opposition. The State budget was presented without Leader of the Opposition in place.