Simha scapegoat of senior State BJP leaders ‘adjustment’ politics?

Mysore/Mysuru: The ‘adjustment politics’ played out by the State BJP leaders that was cited as the reason for the BJP’s rout in the 2023 Assembly election has come to the fore again and this time, it is set to potentially jeopardise Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha’s candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Highly placed sources told Star of Mysore this morning that Simha appears to be the scapegoat of this ‘adjustment’ political manoeuvres as the State BJP leadership seems determined to withhold the ticket for him this time. This decision is speculated to be a strategic move aimed at facilitating the victory of a Congress candidate in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s bastion even before the election is announced.

In the run-up to LS election, the BJP conducted a pre-poll survey in Mysuru and Kodagu, receiving positive feedback from people regarding the developmental works undertaken by Simha in the last 10 years, reinforcing their faith in him.

Following this, an internal election was held in Mysuru to select a candidate, where three potential contenders — Prathap Simha, former Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan and former MP C.H. Vijayashankar — were considered, with Simha garnering the highest approval at ground level for his development works.

Subsequently, on Mar. 7, a meeting took place in New Delhi chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that was attended by Karnataka BJP leaders, who deliberated on the candidate from Mysuru-Kodagu Constituency and other LS seats to be recommended to party’s Central Parliamentary Committee.

During the meeting, State BJP leaders proposed to Shah that an OBC candidate be fielded from Mysuru-Kodagu this time.

This suggestion stemmed from the reluctance of some senior State BJP leaders to support Simha’s candidacy due to their reservations about having a Vokkaliga community leader.

Consequently, sources said, the political manoeuvring by the State BJP leaders is set to benefit CM Siddaramaiah, whose stronghold is Mysuru and who is expected to vigorously support and ensure the victory of Congress candidate. This strategic adjustment in candidate selection could potentially hand over victory on a platter to Siddaramaiah, even before the election.

In response to these developments, MP Simha told SOM that he has been diligently preparing for the election and refrained from offering further comments.