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Journalism of Courage
BJPs troubles with Yeddyurappa highlight the crisis of a party lacking a centre of gravity
Despite all exertions by the BJPs central leadership to put a lid on inner party troubles till the presidential elections are over,the crisis in Karnataka refuses to be tamped down. Hostilities have broken out again between the rival camps led by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and current CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda,with the former setting a new July 5 deadline for replacing Gowda with BSY nominee Jagadish Shettar. The partys central leadership has once again been pushed into firefighting mode,as it considers a compromise that could balance its competing compulsions in the state that had at one time appeared to be its gateway to a southern expansion.
As the BJPs central leadership agonises over how best to shuffle its pack in Karnataka,its limited room for manoeuvre highlights a larger predicament. Over the last several months,it has been clear that the partys central authority does not command respect from,and is being openly challenged by,powerful leaders in the states. A centre of gravity has been missing in the party for some time now. It remains to be seen if Karnataka continues as a painful reminder of the larger syndrome or becomes a turning point.
