K’tka BJP leader criticises central leadership’s 'dictatorial attitude'
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Bengaluru: Veteran Karnataka BJP leader D Sadanand Gowda has openly criticized the central leadership, citing dissatisfaction among local party leaders with what he termed as a "dictatorial attitude."
This revelation comes amid growing speculation that several BJP leaders in the state are contemplating a shift to the Congress party.
Former BJP MLA Ramanna S Lamani added fuel to the speculation by officially joining the Congress in Bengaluru on Thursday, further highlighting the apparent discord within the Karnataka BJP.
Gowda, a former Karnataka Chief Minister, asserted in an interview with Kannada news channel Asianet that the BJP failed to consult state leaders before forming an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)).
The discontent within the party seems to be multifaceted, ranging from internal decision-making processes to alliances that were not universally supported.
The BJP had announced its alliance with the JD(S) on September 22, with Home Minister Amit Shah expressing optimism that the partnership would pave the way for development and strengthen the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka.
However, on October 5, BJP MLA and former state minister ST Somashekar openly opposed the alliance, stating, “I fought against JD(S) all through my political career... in six Assembly elections.” Somashekar further claimed that many BJP and JD(S) MLAs shared his sentiments but refrained from expressing dissent openly.
D Sadanand Gowda went a step further by alleging that the Congress is currently leading in 10 to 15 Lok Sabha constituencies, challenging the BJP's dominance in the state. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the BJP had secured 25 out of the 27 seats it contested, leaving the Congress and JD(S) with just one seat each.