Forget change in K'taka CM post: At 78, BSY's new 'Mission140' seats in next Assembly polls
With two and half years left for the next Assembly election and discontent brewing in, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa has a new task of achieving 140 -150 seats in the next assembly election. The CM who addressed a meeting at his home district with Karnataka in-charge central leader Arun Singh, was quoted from a release from the party.
FollowIn 2023, when Karnataka will vote for Assembly election in April-May, one man who will be the center of discussion is CM BS Yediyurappa as he would have not just reached 80 years then, but will also have a huge task of winning a target of 140 plus seats set by central leaders.
As per reports, the CM was quoted as saying in a release that he will start touring the state widely. His tour will also add fuel to the upcoming Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat elections which will be held on party symbol and also by-election to Belagavi MP seat and Basavakalyan Assembly seat after the death of union minister Suresh Angadi and MLA B Narayana Rao.
Yediyurappa was at his home district Shivamogga for a special meeting as Karnataka BJP in-charge central leader Arun Singh was on a state tour. The meeting was also attended by State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel, BJP General Secretary CT Ravi, Union minister Prahalad Joshi and others.
The statement from the CM about the mission 140 plus and state tour gains significance as some leaders within the party are aspiring cabinet berths and also CM post. Leaders like Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a former union minister, are one among the disgruntled leaders. He is most vocal about this change, however, the party is yet to crack a whip against Yatnal.
The BJP may have its strict rules regarding CM's age and may ask any other strongman to step down after 70, but in case of BS Yediyurappa, the BJP can't even think of such a move as ignoring Yediyurappa will be a death knell for BJP in most of the districts.
In the 2018 assembly election, Yediyurappa who was given the baton, secured 104 seats while rival Congress which was in power was reduced to 78 and JDS the party that could switch the loyalty side got only 37.
The Congress and JDS formed the government, the alliance was on a sticky wicket and BSY used his skills. By engineering defection, the government was brought down after 17 MLA's including ministers resigned and joined BJP later.
The BJP has 118 members now in 224 assembly strength.
