The importance of BJP holding on to V Somanna in Karnataka

The BJP is looking to win big in the Old Mysuru Region which its dominated by the Vokkaliga community. In this context, the calculations for the party cannot go wrong.

Housing Minister of Karnataka, V Somanna has decided to stay back in the BJP and this has come as a major relief to the party.

The decision could be an outcome of the top leadership in the state led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai pacifying Somanna to stay back in the BJP.

Ahead of the crucial Karnataka elections, there was speculation rife that Somanna may quit the BJP and join the Congress. Had this happened, it would have spelt some amount of trouble for the BJP as Somanna enjoys a good rapport with the Lingayat Mutts in Karnataka. The Lingayat votes are crucial for the BJP and the party relies very heavily on the 17 per cent vote share of the community.

Somanna also has a say in the political affairs of Bengaluru. This urban segment is once again crucial for the BJP. One may say that one of the reasons why the BJP fell short of the majority mark in 2018 is due to its poor performance in the urban sector.

A report in the Deccan Herald said that Somanna felt disrespected in the party. The report also said that among the many things that hurt him was also the increasing prominence B S Yediyurappa's son was getting in the party. Somanna's son Arun too has been nurturing political ambitions.

The BJP in Karnataka had to act quick to ensure that Somanna remained with them. Bommai first ensured that Somanna attended the meetings of the party in Hubbali, where discussions were held with him on safeguarding his interests. This was followed by a meeting with Yediyurappa late on Monday night. The CM urged Yediyurappa to share the stage with Somanna at the massive rally to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Davangere on March 25. Yediyurappa assured that he would personally speak with Somanna and convince him to stay in the party.

Signs of a strain were seen when Somanna, a five time MLA had skipped the Vijaya Sankalp Yatra launched by BJP president, J P Nadda in Chamarajanagar. Incidentally Somanna is the district-in-charge of Chamrajanagar.

Somanna kicked off his political journey as a corporate in 1983. He became MLA for the first time in 1994 on a JD(S) ticket.

Somanna is not just important for the BJP in the context of Bengaluru urban and the Lingayat votes, but it is also to do with the fact that he shares a good rapport with the Vokkaligas who form 14 per cent of the electorate. The BJP is eyeing the Vokkaliga votes in a big way this year. Somanna on his part is able to bridge the Vokkaligas and Lingayats in the Old Mysuru Region.

The fact that the BJP is very serious about garnering a large Vokkaliga base could be seen when Union Home Minister, Amit Shah had spoken about the importance of winning big in the Old Mysuru Region, which is dominated by this community. In December Shah had also visited Sumanna's home.