BJP high command instructs Karnataka unit to begin preparations for early assembly polls

Bengaluru/New Delhi

Amid increasing political uncertainty within the ruling Congress government in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command has instructed its state unit to begin systematic preparations for the possibility of early assembly elections. 

Senior party functionaries have been informally told that the “national leadership is not interested in engineering any backdoor political arrangements to gain power in the state, and would instead prefer a clear electoral mandate.”

A highly placed source familiar with the internal discussions told blrpost.com that the BJP central leadership believes the Congress government may not remain stable beyond 2026. “The BJP leadership is of the opinion that due to the deepening internal rift within the Congress, the government may struggle to continue for its full term,” the source said. In view of this assessment, the high command has directed Karnataka BJP leaders to move into election-preparedness mode without delay.

The power struggle within the Congress has intensified sharply in recent months. Deputy Chief Minister (Dy CM) D K Shivakumar is reportedly mounting considerable pressure on the party’s national leadership to elevate him to the Chief Minister’s (CM) position. After the Congress victory in the 2023 assembly election, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are said to have agreed to a 2.5-year power-sharing formula. Although the Siddaramaiah-led government has now crossed the 2.5-year mark, he has shown no indication of stepping down, triggering renewed tensions between the two camps.

Sources within the BJP claim that the party leadership expects the Congress infighting to escalate further. They believe that if Shivakumar is made CM, Siddaramaiah and his supporters may not cooperate and could even facilitate the fall of the government. Conversely, if the Congress high command refuses Shivakumar’s demand, he may also resort to political manoeuvres that could destabilise the administration. In either scenario, the BJP is confident it stands to gain from the growing divisions.

According to party insiders, the BJP high command has decided to observe the situation from a distance rather than intervene. If the Congress government collapses ahead of schedule, the Centre could impose President’s Rule to maintain administrative continuity. This would also give the BJP additional time to strengthen its campaign machinery before the next election.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar on Thursday night and came back on Friday morning. He also visited Congress MLAs who are currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Prison. He looks very desperate to sit on the CM’s chair.