How Congress, BJP are battling the growing unease over ticket distribution in Karnataka

The problems are more pronounced for the BJP because if the party has to repeat its 2019 performance, which enabled them to cross the 300-mark,

With the completion of ticket distribution by two major political parties ((BJP & Congress) in Karnataka, the internal dissidence within both parties over the declaration of the candidates has become more pronounced with important regional satraps openly airing their dissatisfaction over the names.

Former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa, known for his strong support for the RSS, has openly been rebelling against the party. The saffron party which has 25 MPs and obtains strength for the discipline of its cadres, is trying its best to quell the disenchantment in more than half a dozen constituencies.

Prominent Congress legislators have also voiced their worry over the ticket distribution process. Five MLAs and two MLCs, including a state minister, have been threatening to resign in protest. Led by Minister M C Sudhakar, dissenters challenge the potential Kolar ticket allocation to the son-in-law of Minister KH Muniyappa.

The problems are more pronounced for the BJP because if the party has to repeat its 2019 performance, which enabled them to cross the 300-mark, it has to try its best to quell the disquiet and motivate its cadres led by senior party functionaries to kickstart ‘Mission 400’.

Five years after BJP's impressive performance in the state, the political landscape has changed in Karnataka. The BJP and JD(S) have come on one side to fight a resurgent Congress that stormed to victory in the Assembly polls eight months ago.

Also Read: Lok Sabha election 2024: Why Kolar seat has become a flashpoint for Karnataka Congress

How serious is the internal strife in BJP?

In a recent interview to the news agency PTI, Eshwarappa alleged that the BJP is in bad shape in Karnataka. "People and the workers are in favour of the BJP but the system here is bad. What is our Narendra Modi ji saying? The Congress party is in the hands of one family. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi… the central Congress is being controlled by one family. Same situation in Karnataka. Karnataka’s BJP is in control of one family. We have to protest this," the 75-year-old leader said.

He even charged that those standing in favour of Hindutva are being sidelined, be it C T Ravi, Pratap Simha, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal or Sadananda Gowda. "Under any circumstances, I will have to fight the election, which I will do," Eshwarappa said.

Revisiting BJP’s performance in 2019

Out of 28 seats, the BJP swept 25, reducing the Congress and JD(S) - alliance partners then- to one seat each. Another seat was won by a BJP-backed independent candidate.  Five years later, the political landscape has changed. The BJP and JD(S) have come on one side to fight a resurgent Congress that stormed to victory in the Assembly polls eight months ago.

Will the discord in Kolar and Bagalkot derail Congress’ campaign?

Congress has managed to quell the dissent to a certain extent in Karnataka’s Kolar but failed to pacify disgruntled aspirant Veena Kashappanavar in Bagalkot. Five Kolar legislators on March 27 threatened to resign if the party continued with its decision on favouring Minister KH Muniyappa’s son-in-law Chikkapeddanna. They regretted dissenting after meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka votes in two phases

The general elections will be held in seven phases across the country. Karnataka will vote in two phases. The BJP is contesting in alliance with the JDS. The saffron party will contest 25 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka while its ally JDS will contest on the rest. Congress is contesting alone in the state. The BJP had swept the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka bagging 25 seats. An independent backed by the party had also won the election.

Why BJP is confident in dousing the situation

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra at a recent presser expressed confidence that issues which had cropped up within the party due to disgruntlement of aspirants in some constituencies following ticket distribution will be resolved and every one will work for its victory in all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the State.

Targeting the ruling Congress in the state, he said despite efforts of that party’s leadership, no minister mustered the courage to contest the coming polls.