Recent developments in the BJP indicates that all is not well within the party after the humiliating defeat in the May Assembly elections.
All is not well in BJP after the Assembly elections. (supplied)
All is not well within the Karnataka unit of the BJP. Still smarting from the humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections in May, the saffron outfit is now witnessing in-party squabbles with leaders, especially in North Karnataka.
In the latest development, BJP leader and Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwant Khuba has threatened to file a ₹100-crore defamation suit against party colleague and Aurad MLA Prabhu Chauhan.
Khuba’s threat was in response to an allegation that the MLA levelled against him. Chauhan accused the Union minister of trying to assassinate him with the help of hired goons.
Adding to the BJP’s woes, the party’s Belagavi unit accused Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi of indulging in anti-organisational activities during the Assembly elections.
Former minister Shashikala Jolle and former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath reportedly met the party high command in New Delhi to complain against the MLA.
It may be noted that the BJP has not elected a Leader of the Opposition leader in the state Assembly, more than two months after Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the chief minister. The saffron party is also yet to name its leader in the Legislative Council as well.
MLA Chauhan made the startling accusation against Khuba while addressing party workers in Aurad in the Bidar district of the state recently.
“Bhagwant Khuba is conspiring to conduct a by-election in the Aurad Assembly constituency within six months by orchestrating my murder,” he said.
The MLA further said the Union minister had hired contract killers to eliminate him. “Khuba tried to ensure my defeat in the election. He did not even campaign for me. However, his attempts were unsuccessful. He is now planning to murder me using hired goons,” he said.
Chauhan further explained the “conspiracy”, alleging: “They have planned to shoot me on the streets. I came to know about this plot from Khuba’s followers.”
Incidentally, Chauhan levelled similar allegations against Khuba earlier as well.
Refuting the allegation, Khuba said he would file a ₹100-crore defamation suit against Chauhan if he continued to level the allegations.
“There is no rivalry or difference between us. He is falling prey to the Congress toolkit. The grand old party is behind this conspiracy,” he told South First.
The Union minister expressed suspicion that “fake narratives” were being created against him in the light of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “Not even a single criminal case was filed against me during my more than two decades in politics. The allegations by Chauhan are far from the truth,” he said.
“If he continued to make allegations against me. I will take legal action against him by slapping a ₹100-crore defamation case on him,” the Union minister warned.
To a specific query, Khuba said he had informed the party’s high command of the MLA’s allegations. “I have explained everything to the high command. They have assured to talk with Chauhan.”
The Union minister also dismissed Chauhan’s allegation that he wanted a bypoll. “I want to ask him, will I contest the bypoll? If I kill him, will people accept me,” he asked.
Khuba further said he was inducted into the Union Cabinet after verifying his antecedents. I do not have a single black mark in my entire political career.”
“I appeal to him not to fall victim to the Congress toolkit. His allegations will not impact my prospects in the forthcoming parliamentary polls,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s Belagavi unit led by former minister Jolle and former MLC Kavatagimath reportedly complained against Jarkiholi.
Jolle, Kavatagimath, and other party leaders from Belagavi met the party high command, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and national president JP Nadda, and accused Jarkiholi of indulging in anti-party activities.
“Jolle and Kavatagimath explained Jarkiholi’s anti-party activities in the region to the high command. The leaders also expressed disappointment in giving tickets to Jarkiholi’s men instead of party workers in the seven Assembly seats,” sources said.
They also reportedly told the national leadership that Jarkiholi made adjustments with the other parties to defeat the Congress. However, he failed as the party did not win in Belagavi Rural, Athani, Kagwad, and four other seats in the Belagavi district.
Out of the 18 Assembly seats in Belagavi, Congress won 11, while the BJP had to settle with the remaining seven.
Kavatagimath said they had not complained against any leader. “It is true that we met the party high command. But it was not to complain about any leader. We met the central leadership to discuss the pending development works in Belagavi district,” Kavatagimath told South First.
After the Jolle faction’s Delhi visit, Jarkiholi flew to the national capital and held talks with the high command.
“I have no idea about party leaders from Belagavi complaining against me. I will respond only if anyone produces the complaint letter. It is all media-created rumours,” Jarkiholi told South First.
“I meet the high command once every fortnight. I met the high command because of the party and personal work. I discussed the latest political developments in the state. I don’t want to comment more,” he added.
May 10, 2024
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