By Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Metro Reporter
BELLARY GONE!
YEDURAPPA’S MAGIC WANES, BJP LOOSES DEPOSITS
The loyalists of former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa created an impression that without him, the BJP is nothing. But, the Bellary by-election has shown otherwise. Despite Yedurappa’s hectic campaigning, the BJP candidate lost the deposit. Whether it is Yedurappa’s inevitability or the collective leadership, the people simply elected an Independent with huge margin. Even Yedurappa’s hold on his community has proved to be a myth. Whatever reasons or excuses the BJP advances for its total rout in Bellary, the fact remains that Yedurappa and BJP failed.
Yedurappa received a rousing welcome on his release from jail on bail and to teach his detractors in the party a lesson, he made a solemn statement that he will not campaign in the upcoming Bellary by-elections. The state BJP President K.S.Eswarappa and Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda along with others then started leading the campaign. But, the loyalists of Yedurappa created an aura that without Yedurappa BJP is bound to lose. Eventually, BJP leaders forced rope in Yedurappa in the campaign so that BJP could win the Bellary seat.
Yedurappa graciously agreed to camp in Bellary for few days to ensure the victory of BJP candidate, thus sending a clear message that he is indispensible to BJP to win the elections. Along with him, the entire cabinet and BJP MLAs descended on Bellary making it a high voltage campaign.
The caste equations in Bellary seat also favoured the BJP. Except the Valmiki community which stood behind Sriramulu, Yedurappa aimed at the Lingayat vote bank and was under the impression that around 35000 lingayat voters would vote the BJP candidate as he claims total monopoly over the lingayats in the state. More than anything, the BJP was over confident that with Yedurappa leading the campaign, it will be a walkover for the BJP candidate.
It is another matter that money and liquor flooded freely in the campaign and all the candidates worked hard and spent a fortune. Yet, with Yedurappa leading the campaign, the BJP was upbeat about the victory notwithstanding the fact that it had lacked loyal party workers. Despite the party cadre walking over to Sriramulu camp, the party was confident of winning the elections by the name of Yedurappa alone. The leaders also thundered firing speeches at the Reddy camp and directly blamed them for all the Bellary mess.
The by-elections on 30th November, 2011, saw large scale voting at almost 72 percent, an increase of eleven percent over the 2008 elections. Interestingly, no media dared to conduct exit polls or opinion polls.
On 4th December, the result was declared. Sriramulu, the independent candidate won the seat by a margin of over 46000 votes, over his nearest Congress rival. The BJP came a poor third and lost the deposit. The votes polled in favour of Congress and BJP together were less than the margin of victory.
The result shocked the BJP leaders and Yedurappa. It proved that the consolidation of caste vote bank is a myth and that Yedurappa does not enjoy hold over the lingayat vote bank. Otherwise, the BJP candidate should have polled at least 26000 lingayat votes! But he got only 17000 votes!
The worst was reserved for BJP, particularly Yedurappa, who had to prove his leadership and capacity of winning elections. During his three plus years of rule, 20 by-elections were held and Yedurappa managed to win 12 seats. However, after his exit from the CM post, he had to prove his undisputed leader status capable of winning the seats to BJP. He had to prove that he enjoys total control over the lingayats which is a majority community in the state. More than anybody, it was Yedurappa to whom it was of utmost importance to prove his leadership once again.
But the outcome was disappointing to Yedurappa and his loyalists. He was not able to give even an effective fight to Sriramulu, an independent candidate. To sum up, Yedurappa’s leadership qualities and his vote catching ability was put to test in the Bellary by-elections and he failed in both miserably.
And that is all.
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