House in disarray: Shah to haul up errant ministers?

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The state’s ruling party has been in a state of disarray, plagued by rumours and internal rivalries, especially since Basavaraj Bommai took over as Chief Minister. The impending visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Jan 8 and 9, possibly meant to set the house in order, has the Bommai cabinet on its toes, with speculation rife that a reshuffle is on the cards. His visit is much anticipated - CM Bommai, who has been unequivocal with the party high command about being undermined by his party-men, will no doubt express his grievances. As will BJP leaders in Mysuru and Belagavi, who have been left seething after a less than satisfactory performance in the urban local body elections as well as in the recently-concluded Sindagi and Hangal bypolls.

Even if political rivalries have placed CM Bommai on a shaky wicket since he took over, he does seem to have the party high command firmly on his side. His tenure has been fraught, with uncooperative and resentful saffron leaders clamouring incessantly for a ‘change of guard in Karnataka’. Last week, BJP General Secretary and Karnataka In-Charge, Arun Singh, attempted to intervene and address these problems when he was in Hubbali for the state executive committee meeting.

Unhappy with this prevailing disarray in the state, Shah, a close lieutenant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will, in all likelihood, attempt to set the house in order and emphasise the high command’s support for Chief Minister Bommai. Insiders have confirmed the saffron party’s stand, saying that central leadership has no plans to oust Bommai from the CM’s post, as it has been happy with his governance over the last four months. During his two-day visit, Shah will take stock of the party and also hold a discussion on the poor performance in the recent urban local body polls, as well as the loss of the Hangal seat in the bypolls.

Shah is expected to pull up those attempting to undermine Bommai. Even the idea of these internal disputes affecting the BJP’s performance in the 2023 Assembly polls has not deterred them - Large & Medium scale Industries Minister Murgesh Nirani was the most recent to reveal his ambitions, with his close pal and former Deputy CM K.S. Eshwarappa glowingly describing him as “the future CM of Karnataka.”

Meanwhile, senior leaders in Belagavi and Mysuru districts have compiled a long list of complaints against their respective district heads, whom they hold responsible for their defeat in the recent elections. Sources close to the CM told News Trail that Shah’s visit is being awaited by these district leaders, who want to pour out their woes against a few others for their ‘dubious’ role during the urban body elections as well as in the Sindagi and Hangal bypolls. In Belagavi, their anger is directed at Gokak MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who managed to secure his brother Lakhan a seat, defeating the BJP candidate Mahantesh Kavatagimath to do so. Party leaders in Mysuru are equally upset over the district unit becoming a divided house. And everyone is hopeful that stern action will be taken against those responsible for the defeat of winnable candidates in the recent election.