BJP’s Bellary padayatra: Fight against govt exposes cracks in Opposition unity

The 175-km padayatra (foot march) organized by the Karnataka BJP demanding the resignation of minister B Nagendra has become more of a test of the BJP’s internal differences and the leadership of the party’s state president BY Vijayendra than a fight against the state’s Congress government.

It is the Opposition’s duty to take on the government in the case of any wrongdoing by the latter. However, in this case the question is, what political message the Opposition wants to send with this foot march, since Nagendra, who was accused of corruption, has already resigned.

The debate in political circles is whether this is a fight against the Congress or a platform for Vijayendra to demonstrate his leadership skills and build his own charisma as the state BJP president.

Separate protests within BJP

While Vijayendra is leading the march towards Bellary, other senior party leaders in Bengaluru, including R Ashok, CT Ravi, Tejasvi Surya, and Shobha Karandlaje, among others, are protesting separately, highlighting the lack of coordination within the party.

Also read: Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigns amid Valmiki Corporation row

Senior journalist N Ravikumar pointed out that the BJP has failed to highlight specific issues and fight against the government as an effective opposition party. That is not to say that the Congress regime made no mistakes, but it’s the BJP that has failed to identify and fight certain “anti-people policies” effectively, exposing the factionalism within the party, he added.

The party’s internal differences are being exposed through public statements too. A prominent leader of the anti-Vijayendra faction, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been expelled from the BJP for six years, has strongly criticized this padayatra.

Yatnal’s criticism

While Vijayendra has taken the entire credit for Nagendra’s resignation, other senior BJP leaders also fought equally in the Assembly. Yatnal has strongly criticized Vijayendra saying he has “no dignity”.

Another glaring incongruity is the absence of the BJP’s state ally JD(S) in the foot march. Ideally, the allies should have marched together in the fight against the Congress. But the JDS is busy conducting a separate campaign against minister Priyank Kharge. The Opposition’s separate fights in different directions are turning out to be a boon for the ruling Congress.

Also read: Karnataka Cabinet withdraws Bill allowing up to 5 pc park land for public purposes

These developments confirm the tough challenges facing Vijayendra, who is trying to emerge as an independent leader out of the shadow of his father, BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa.

Vijayendra firmly defends march

Despite the criticism against him and the non-cooperation of senior leaders, Vijayendra has firmly defended the march. It has entered its sixth day and “turned into a mass movement” with the common people joining hands, he claimed.

“As a result of the mass movement, it has become necessary for the chief minister to wrap a green shawl for the first time in his life and visit the drought-hit areas of North Karnataka,” Vijayendra claimed, describing this as the biggest victory of the march.

Also read: Karnataka CM Shivakumar seeks Centre’s help on farm loan waiver

However, keeping in mind the 2028 elections, it is more imperative for Vijayendra to prove his ability to lead the entire organization by taking senior leaders into confidence, strengthening coordination with allies, and uniting them.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka.)