BJP’s defeat is a sign of Yeddyurappa walking into the Karnataka sunset. A photograph of the senior BJP leader taken the night before counting day speaks volumes of his gloom, though he tried to maintain a brave face till the end.
Yediyurappa had confidently told News18, “My aim is to ensure that the BJP not only wins the assembly elections, but also sends maximum MPs to Parliament,” but it seems he has failed in his first task.
Known as a “hot-blooded” and courageous leader who took oath as chief minister in the name of Karnataka farmers in 2008, Yediyurappa is renowned for taking stands on issues he truly believes in. Disappointment and complete helplessness with the result.
He accused the party workers of working hard for success this time. Despite his ill health, he made sure that he traveled the length and breadth of the state. Unfortunately, the voters had another plan in mind and we accept their decision with humility,” said a senior BJP leader close to Yediyurappa.
Being the only Chief Minister to have served Karnataka four times, he unfortunately did not complete a single term as his political career was marked by dalliances with the BJP, controversies and allegations of corruption. Bukanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa also decided to change the spelling of his name by dropping the letter ‘d’ and adding an ‘i’ for numerological reasons.
Yediyurappa’s changes, however, are not limited to his name. According to political experts and BJP leaders, he has transformed into a more calm and experienced politician over the years. He is known to be a fiery and passionate BJP leader who was determined to separate his party from the Congress.
In 2008, when the BJP won 110 seats – three short of a majority – Yediyurappa made a bold call of engineering defection or ‘Operation Kamala’ and lured two JD(S), one Congress and some independent MLAs to power the party . And form a stable government.
He did this without consulting the party high command – a decision only he could have taken. In 2019, when the BJP fell short of the magic figure of 113 despite winning 105 seats in the 224-member assembly, a confident, persistent and tactful Yediyurappa struck once again and removed 17 MLAs from the Congress and the JD(S). Got it changed ,
He then proudly occupied the Chief Minister’s seat and the party high command asked him to step down. Though Yeddyurappa told News18 that he resigned of his own free will, the BJP’s image has been damaged by misrepresenting a political stalwart like him.
Bitter clashes later led to his exit from the BJP and he challenged the BJP with his Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) in the 2013 assembly elections, as a result of which the BJP lost to the Congress. Yediyurappa returned to power in 2014 and gave much-needed momentum to the BJP, which won 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats and improved its tally to 26 in 2019. However, he could not do another Operation Kamala in the 2018 assembly elections. and resigned within three days of being sworn in as chief minister as the Congress and the JD(S) claimed to form an alliance.
Yediyurappa’s relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had at times been strained, even as he had to wait nearly 22 months in 2019 before giving approval to appoint his cabinet of ministers. Not only did he organize the four. cabinet meetings where he was the only minister in attendance, but went to Delhi several times and was denied meetings with Shah and Modi.
Although his tenure in 2008 was largely tainted by corruption, he continued to demonstrate his fighting spirit despite a major fallout with the party leadership that led him to form his own party. In the ensuing election, the BJP suffered badly and BSY’s party won six seats, a rare feat for a first-time political party.
DH Sankaramurthy, former Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Council, had earlier told this reporter that though BSY’s political career has been full of challenges, he knew how to overcome them successfully.
“Yeddyurappa likes challenges. He plans methodically and makes sure that the situation is in his favor. Though he was initially known to have a short temper, he has become a shrewd politician over the years,” said another BJP leader on condition of anonymity.
Throughout his career, Yediyurappa focused on building a pro-farmer, pro-poor image for the BJP in Karnataka with his campaigns aimed at helping farmers, bonded laborers and small landowners. In his last term in office, he took oath in the name of farmers wearing a green shawl, which set him apart from other BJP politicians. However, his career was also marked by the need to overcome opponents within the party.
Yeddyurappa’s enthusiasm and hard work earned him an undeniable place in the hearts of the BJP and the people of Karnataka. He will always be remembered for his efforts to help farmers and communities, including Muslims, who felt that he always treated them with respect, despite being a BJP leader with deep roots in the RSS.