The clean chit for former Karnataka CM B.S. Yeddyurappa by a CBI court in the last case of corruption against him opens up the possibility of the BJP hoisting the saffron flag for the second time in the state, that goes to the polls in 18 months. It will give BJP president Amit Shah enough time to chart his strategy with the Assembly elections due in Karnataka in 2018. It was after all Mr Yeddyurappa’s launch of the breakaway Karnataka Janata Party before the 2013 election that split the BJP vote, and gave the Congress the unlikeliest of victories.
The Lingayat strongman, now free of the corruption taint that forced him out of office, is expected to be ruthless in silencing detractors and consolidating the BJP’s major Lingayat base. While the major challenge before him will be to unite the state unit, the Congress government headed by chief minister Siddaramaiah is making it all too easy, rocked by scams in its three-and-half years in office. It is still a divided house, with the old guard unwilling to accept Mr Siddaramaiah’s leadership, grudging the clout of newcomers close to the CM calling the shots. Though JD(S) leaders are trying to widen their appeal beyond Vokkaligas and their Old Mysuru stronghold to areas Mr Yeddyurappa sees as his hunting ground, the BJP’s electoral plan could see a coming together of two major political forces to undermine the already shambolic ruling Congress. Given that the last obstacle has been lifted, few doubt the sharp 73-year-old’s ability to win another term at the helm.
