Shivamogga MP, B.Y. Raghavendra with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bengaluru on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With the factional war in the Karnataka unit of the BJP showing no signs of abating, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said the election to the State BJP president’s post would be held soon.

Mr. Chouhan, who is also the BJP’s internal election in charge for Karnataka, said here on Saturday that the process to elect the new president had started. Interestingly, State BJP presidents have so far been chosen unopposed.

Mr. Chauhan’s announcement comes a day after Mr. Vijayendra expressed confidence of continuing in the post and the party returning to power in the State with a majority. He had also held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah a few days ago.

Dented image

The State BJP’s image appears to be dented heavily as leaders associated with the groups led by Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal and Mr. Vijayendra have been washing dirty linen in public. 

Factions have weakened the saffron party’s campaign against alleged corruption charges, including the MUDA scam; however, there are also leaders who aren’t siding with any faction. Factionalism in the BP reportedly played a role in the defeat of the party’s candidates in the byelections to three Assembly constituencies in the State held in November, 2024.

With complaints of both the factions reaching the party high command, Mr. Chouhan said the election process would commence soon for the post of State president.

“We hold booth-level leaders’ elections as well. Sometimes the people are elected unanimously,” Mr. Chouhan said.

To douse differences

Sources in the BJP said the Union Minister’s remark on holding elections to the post of State president was largely aimed at dousing the differences and arriving at some sort of mutual understanding among leaders in the party.

Mr. Vijayendra, who is former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s son and Shikaripur MLA, has just completed one year in office.

A section of former MLAs, former MPs and leaders, including Mr. Yatnal and Gokak MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi, have been opposing Mr. Vijayendra and his style of functioning.

Two factions have started separate protests against the alleged encroachment of lands of farmers by the wakf board in the last few months, bringing the differences out in the open.

Many leaders of the faction, led by Mr. Yatnal, have not joined the protests undertaken by Mr. Vijayendra in the past few months.

Interestingly, this comes at a time when a section of leaders in the ruling Congress too have been challenging the continuation of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as KPCC chief.