his son BY Vijayendra has faced strong headwinds from within the party While BS Yediyurappa transformed BJP.
In 1989, he was its only Lingayat MLA. By 2004, the party had 34, rising to 39 in 2008, when it formed its first govt in the state. KS Eshwarappa (Kuruba) headed the unit from 1993 to 1998, when the party expanded. Sadananda Gowda, president from 2006 to 2010, presided over the 110-seat win in 2008, though Yediyurappa was the central figure. Pralhad Joshi (Brahmin) took charge in March 2013. Nalin Kumar Kateel (Bunt), president from 2019 to 2023, led BJP to 25 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, but assembly strength fell from 104 in 2018 to 66 in 2023.
MB Maramkal, political strategist, says: “A non-Lingayat president is unviable, as the party’s history shows. But the circumstances make this decision more consequential. Names doing the rounds include former minister V Sunil Kumar (Billava), Union minister Shobha Karandlaje (Vokkaliga), Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya (Brahmin) and CN Ashwath Narayan (Vokkaliga). Yediyurappa transformed BJP’s fortunes, cashing in on the anti-Congress sentiments in the community in the 1980s. Shettar and Bommai’s appointment as CM after Yediyurappa’s exit reflected the importance attached to the community. Non-Lingayat presidents offer mixed results. The results show how national trends, factionalism and strong regional faces shape outcomes. Its social coalition and alliance with JD(S) are also factors. A non-Lingayat could upset the coalition. With Kumaraswamy, a Vokkaliga as JD(S) face and Lingayat as BJP face, the alliance would do well if they work in tandem. Opposition leader post should go to a prominent SC/ST member. The choices will show how central brass balance community representation, organisational renewal and influence of its state functionaries”
Bengaluru: With BY Vijayendra completing his tenure of three years as Karnataka BJP president on Tuesday, the party’s central brass face a familiar dilemma: retain a Lingayat at the helm, or pick a non-Lingayat to ease differences within the community.