BJP’s woes multiply after poll debacle, as mud-slinging brings to open lack of cohesion in Karnataka unit
The Hindu
The woes of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have multiplied after its miserable defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, as groupism and lack of cohesion in the party are coming out in the open.
The woes of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have multiplied after its miserable defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, as groupism and lack of cohesion in the party are coming out in the open.
Contrary to the belief that the defeat may bring its leaders together, the party is now witnessing mud-slinging as its leaders are indulging in a blame game, trying to point fingers at one another for the poll debacle.
What has caused concern is that the blame game, which is taking place in full public view, has threatened to deepen the already existing divisions within the organisation. This appears to be a continuation of the old political tussle between the pro- and anti-B.S. Yediyurappa camps.
Most of the introspection meetings that have been called by the BJP to analyse the reasons for its poll debacle have been witnessing open arguments between leaders. Senior leaders, former Ministers, MPs, and MLAs are among those trading charges and in public.
This has not only embarrassed the party but has also left top leaders worried as the State unit is yet to re-organise itself to commence preparations for the next year’s parliamentary polls.
In fact, the BJP is yet to elect its legislature party leader who will occupy the post of the Leader of the Opposition though more than one-and-a-half months have passed since the declaration of the poll results. Similarly, the party is yet to appoint a new State president though the term of its incumbent, Nalin Kumar Kateel, ended last year.
Sources in the party said that central leadership would take the initiative to ensure that a legislature party meeting is convened by July 2, the eve of the commencement of the legislature session, to set the stage for choosing the Leader of the Opposition.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.