Bengaluru: Now that 'big catch' senior Congress leader S.M. Krishna is in the BJP's net, the opposition BJP is casting wider to reel in other Vokkaliga leaders. The sole criteria? Winnability.
The BJP's next target is disgruntled Channapatna MLA, C.P. Yogeshwar, and former Congress MLA from Chintamani Dr M.C. Sudhakar; The latter, lost the assembly elections in 2013. In both these constituencies, Vokkaligas are the deciding factor with the BJP almost non-existent.
The BJP, once called a party of Brahmins, became identified with Lingayats in the run up to B.S. Yeddyurappa’s rise in the party when he took over as CM in 2008. In a tactical shift to widen its base, a la UP, the party is now consciously broadening its Hindu vote base to include Vokkaligas.
On hold however is the formal entry of former minister, Ambareesh, no friend of SMK’s. Ambareesh could now join the party, three to four months before the polls.
