A day after the Supreme Court allowed Karnataka rebel leaders to contest the bye-polls slated to be held on December 5, the BJP inducted 16 of the 17 rebel leaders into the party. This move has given rise to rebellion within the party as BJP leaders, who were hoping to get tickets to contest elections, are now unhappy about the rebel leaders joining the party.
BJP insiders say that former JD(S) President Adagooru H Vishwanath, former Athani MLA Mahesh Kumatahalli, and former Ranebennur MLA R Shankar alias Pendulum Shankar, are unlikely to get tickets to contest the elections.
The Hunsur dilemma
AH Vishwanath, JD(S) leaders say, had incurred a huge debt close to Rs 90 crore during the Karnataka Assembly elections held in 2018. Vishwanath, who was appointed as the JD(S) state president, had hoped to bag a ministry or the chairmanship of a board or corporation during the coalition’s regime. However, the JD(S) first family had kept him away from power.
“Vishwanath had also asked Deve Gowda to help him with the debt but no one came to help him. He decided to help Ramesh Jarkiholi and join the BJP to ensure that his son gets a shot at entering politics,” the JD(S) leader said.
BJP insiders say that former Channapattana MLA CP Yogeeshwar has been campaigning in Hunsur, Vishwanath’s stronghold, hoping to bag a ticket to contest elections. However, Vishwanath allegedly struck a deal with the BJP in exchange for tendering his resignation. BJP sources say that Vishwanath wanted his son Amit Devarahatti to get the ticket to contest the bye-elections.
“The BJP ideally wants Vishwanath to contest. They don’t want his son. But Yogeeshwar is threatening to work against the party if he is not given the ticket,” the source said.
Unhappy rebel leader in Athani
Trouble is brewing for the BJP in Belagavi’s Athani as well as former MLA and Congress rebel Mahesh Kumatahalli is hoping to contest bye-polls on a BJP ticket. Party insiders say the high command is adamant that Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who was caught watching porn in the Assembly in 2012, will be given the ticket.
The BJP is currently in talks with Mahesh Kumatahalli, where the party is offering to elect him as a Member of the Legislative Council and give him a ministerial portfolio or the chairmanship of a state-run board or corporation.
“BL Santhosh wants Laxman Savadi to get the ticket. He was appointed as the Deputy CM after the high command decided that he would contest from Athani. Mahesh Kumatahalli is not happy about these developments,” the source said.
Trouble for Pendulum Shankar
Dissent is brewing in the BJP’s Ranebennur unit, where party loyalist Kantaraju, who had contested the Assembly elections on a party ticket in 2018, is unhappy about R Shankar’s entry into the BJP.
BJP sources say that several BJP leaders are apprehensive about giving R Shankar a ticket as he has, on multiple occasions, proved to be unreliable, and prone to easily breaking his word.
On the afternoon of May 15, 2013, R Shankar, the former KPJP MLA from Ranebennur, had announced that he would offer his support to the coalition. Just a day later, he announced that he would support the BJP and a day later, supported the coalition. Over the course of the 14-month coalition government, R Shankar withdrew his support for the coalition twice. Known as a party hopper, BJP loyalists do not want R Shankar to get the ticket.
“BJP leaders, who have been with the party, are not happy about R Shankar being considered as the candidate. Several leaders have also requested the high command that R Shankar be kept away from contesting elections. The party was supposed to decide on the tickets yesterday (Wednesday) but many leaders are adamant that R Shankar be kept away. The leaders in Delhi will have to decide,” the source added.