| In a factional fight in the party's Karnataka unit between former Union minister Ananth Kumar and BS Yeddyurappa, the party's chief ministerial candidate, the scales, which till now were favouring the latter, have balanced out. |
| Ananth Kumar's proximity to Advani versus Yeddyurappa's hold on the state unit are a cause of serious worry for the party. |
| "Till now, Ananth Kumar was an aggrieved party, as he felt that Yeddyurappa was being given more importance. He expressed his displeasure in at least two specific instances. He was conspicuous by his absence at a rally addressed by BJP chief Rajnath Singh at Raichur, and also absented himself from a press conference addressed by Singh in Bangalore after Yeddyurappa had been sworn in as chief minister," said a source in the party. |
| After Advani's elevation, Ananth Kumar is back in the reckoning in the state unit. He has been appointed as chairman of the party's campaign committee for the upcoming Assembly elections. "All is not well in the state unit despite efforts to project a united front," said another source. |
| Ananth Kumar's proximity to Advani and other central leaders is not the only reason he is being favoured. Yeddyurappa, in his last ditch attempt at becoming chief minister, had annoyed the entire parliamentary board of the party. |
| "If Yeddyurappa had not made that last attempt only to remain chief minister for a mere week, the polls could have been held as early as March-April," said a source. "His insistence on being CM against the advice and wishes of the central leaders has upset them," said the source. |
| With both the Congress and BJP a divided house in the state, and Deve Gowda's JD(S) still recovering from the debacle of summary defections of PGR Scindhia and MP Prakash, elections in Karnataka have become difficult to predict. |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard