Winning Karnataka is crucial for the BJP ahead of the 2024 elections

It has been back and forth for the BJP in Karnataka. In the past couple of months, it has brought its tallest leader, B S Yediyurappa back in the lead, thus indicating that it needs him to win Karnataka.

However the BJP it is not the 2023 battle for Karnataka alone. It is also focusing on the 2024 elections where there are 28 seats up for grabs. The BJP currently has 25 MPs from Karnataka.

Polls in Karnataka will be held on May 10, while counting will take place on May 13. For the BJP the elections are much more prestigious as it holds power only in one South Indian state-Karnataka. The push for Karnataka also comes in the wake of the party aspiring for power in the other southern states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

For the battle in Karnataka, the BJP has been strengthening its organisational structure and is also banking heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The experience of Yediyurappa will also be a major factor for the party, as he enjoys a massive clout with the Lingayats and farmers. While Yediyurappa will play the Lingayat card, his son Vijayendra has managed to prove his political acumen during the many by-elections that have been held. In those by-polls, he has managed to win over the Vokkaliga votes, which has remained a stranger for the BJP.

The manner in which the top brass have dealt with Yediyurappa this time clearly shows that he is the man to go to. Yediyurappa has announced that he will not contest the elections, thus giving the signal that he wants his son to come out of his shadow. However for the BJP, he still remains the tallest leader and without him, the BJP have it tough going in the state.

Post his resignation as the chief minister of Karnataka, it was being said that Yediyurappa has been pushed into the side-lines. However the party asking him to anchor the Vijay Sankalp Yatras and the inauguration of an airport from his home town of Shivamogga, were all clear messages that the BJP is not yet to prepared to face an election without him.

This time around the BJP has decided not to target just the Lingayats. There is a massive push to bag in the votes of the Vokkaligas, Dalits and tribals. The recent decision to realign the reservation for both the Vokkaligas and Lingayats is proof of the same. The four per cent reservation for Muslims was taken away and equally divided between the Vokaligas and Lingayats.