Bengaluru: With its first base, south of the Vindhyas showing signs of crumbling, the BJP top brass has started brainstorming on Thursday's meeting of the rebels, but party sources ruled out any immediate action against rebel leader K.S.
Eshwarappa or BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa for that matter.
Knowing quite well that Karnataka politics rests on the powder keg of caste, BJP national president Amit Shah, may let the situation simmer for now with Yeddyurappa remaining the CM face for 2018 and Eshwarappa continuing as Opposition leader in the Council. But those who know of the ways of the BJP, said nothing would be forgotten and Yeddyurappa could be at the receiving end after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. And Eshwarappa, who, enjoys no great clout in the party, could be increasingly sidelined.
Mr Shah also knows that the Lingayat community of Yeddyurappa is no longer a reliable vote bank that backs him unquestioningly, which became evident from the Gundlupet and Nanjangud poll results, where the huge Lingayat population ensured that it was Congress candidates that won by huge margins.
The party may look towards the backward classes, SCs, STs and even Vokkaligas to firm up a formidable caste combination. The BJP is also wary of piggybacking on one community like the Lingayats - a factor, Yeddyurappa has hitherto used to his advantage to project himself as the indisputable BJP mascot.
Yeddyurappa, meanwhile has rushed to Delhi to apprise the central leadership about the situation post the 'Save organisation meeting' on Thursday.
