The appointment of B.Y. Vijayendra, MLA, as the BJP’s State president is expected to offer a stiff challenge to the Congress, which is eyeing to win 20 seats in the general elections next year, especially in a context where Karnataka voters have a tendency to vote for different political parties in the Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary elections.
The new president, belonging to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, is expected to provide a much-needed morale booster to the BJP cadre, particularly the youth. The dominant community, which felt sidelined after veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa was asked to step down from the top post, is expected to rally behind his son. The community is said to be jittery over the issue of caste census and perceived denial of prominent executive posts to community officials in the Congress government.
The 48-year-old Vijayendra is credited with organisational skills and the party leaders acknowledge his abilities which helped the party to open its account in the bypolls in K.R. Pet of Mandya, Sira in Tumakuru and Basavakalyana in Bidar during the previous BJP regime. As the appointment came from the party’s high command, the leaders aspiring to become the State unit chief are likely to fall in line.
