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Published Sep 01, 2025 | 5:06 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2025 | 5:06 PM
Two of the party’s senior media coordinators, Karunakar Khasale (chief media coordinator) and Prashant Makanur (deputy media coordinator) were abruptly removed from the group.
Synopsis: In a party where optics are everything and digital loyalty is often measured in retweets, shares and in general, more screen space on social media platforms, Ashoka is quite understandably miffed. The removal of party’s top media coordinators seems more like a disciplinary action wrapped in digital undertones.
Four days ago, Karnataka politics witnessed a peculiar development. Not in the Vidhana Soudha or in any party office headquarters, but in a WhatsApp group. Specifically, that of Karnataka’s Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
Two of the party’s senior media coordinators, Karunakar Khasale (state media coordinator) and Prashant Makanur (Convenor – BJP Karnataka social media cell) were abruptly removed from the group.
It might seem like just another digital hiccup, but in the high-stakes world of the political see-saw game, this quiet purge definitely had a deeper meaning.
The not-so-subtle subtext? Favouritism. The kind that also involves political turf wars and image management.
The media coordinators are seemingly playing favourites, by promoting the state party chief BY Vijayendra instead of Ashoka, although constitutionally, the LoP takes the higher seat. The contest has been playing out publicly, especially on social media platforms, much to the chagrin of Ashoka.
A quick look at the state BJP’s X handle is enough to attest to this play on favourites. Whenever state unit president BY Vijayendra speaks to the media on any given issue, the party handle jumps to post videos, pictures and quotes from his interviews. On the other hand, Ashoka’s statements and videos are conspicuously absent, and rarely shared by the handle in comparison to Vijayendra’s.
This is not the first time Vijayendra is getting more importance than Ashoka within the party affairs.
Just last month, hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to inaugurate key infrastructure projects, including Namma Metro’s new Yellow Line, the original guest list for the event, released by the PMO, had state BJP president Vijayendra’s name and not Ashoka’s. A last minute addition saved the LoP’s face at a time when Congress leaders weren’t hesitant to point out the apparent exclusion.
In a party where optics are everything and digital loyalty is often measured in retweets, shares and in general, more screen space on social media platforms, Ashoka is quite understandably miffed. The removal of top media coordinators seems more like a disciplinary action wrapped in digital undertones.
