Udayavani exclusive interview: Murugesh Nirani speaks on ongoing political landscape in Karnataka

Team Udayavani, Jan 3, 2024, 11:02 AM IST

In an exclusive interview with “Udayavani,” BJP Vice President and former minister Murugesh Nirani addressed the ongoing political landscape in Karnataka, shedding light on the party’s strategy, alliances, and the alleged discontent within the Congress party.

Q: It is being said that the government ministers and ruling Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP. Can you elaborate on this claim?

A: Yes, it’s true. There is significant unrest within the Congress, with unhappy ministers and MLAs reaching out to us. The government’s failure to deliver on promises and the recent election results have fueled discontent among the ruling legislators.

Q: Can you name the ministers and MLAs in contact with the BJP? Did you contact them or they contacted you?

A: While it’s an open secret that disaffected Congress members are in touch with us, the specifics remain confidential. Unless they contact us, we haven’t initiated contact. Not much to say about this now. Those who wish to speak will speak. The truth comes out eventually, just like water from a conch shell. So, it is the elders who will speak.

Q: Haven’t BJP party members also been in contact with the Congress?

A: Disgruntled leaders including Former Minister V. Somanna, MLA Aravind Bellad, DV Sadananda Gowda, and many others have been pacified.  S.T. Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar haven’t expressed any intention to join the Congress. A representative meeting a minister for the development of his constituency is not wrong. The party lacked a state president for a long time. Now Vijayendra has taken on that role. We have held discussions with disgruntled leaders to allay their grievances, and if needed high command is intervening. The situation will be fine. No one is moving to the Congress.

Q: Is the JDS alliance limited to the Lok Sabha elections, or do you anticipate a role in government formation?

A: We do not know the complete details of the discussion that took place between our high command and JDS leadership. Currently, both parties have over 80 MLAs combined. JDS MLAs are expected to cooperate in our activities. Anything said now could be construed as a joke. Everything is happening at the high command level. In case there’s a situation to form a government in the state, JDS will certainly support us.

Q: Some critics within your party are not accepting the new state leadership, labeling it as “KJP-2.” How do you respond to that?

A: It isn’t so. Out of the 35 office bearers in the new state leadership, 30 are from the original BJP. I did not join the KJP even though I had close connections with the Yediyurappa family. No one has a problem with the new office bearers. Only Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has been making remarks against the state leadership, which has been reported to the party’s high command.  A decision will be made when the occasion arises. We are still a disciplined party.

Yediyurappa is a father figure to me. He has built the party from grassroots levels. It isn’t right to talk lightly about him.

Q: How do you feel about becoming the party vice president, and what challenges does the new team face?

A: I have been appointed as the state BJP vice president by party seniors. As of now, I am the senior in this team. This is not new to me. Earlier, I was the vice president of the state BJP Yuva Morcha. District President, Member of State Executive Committee. I have been in the organization for 25 years.  I did not come directly to this position. I have organizational experience. Our goal is to win all 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Last elections Congress won a single seat. To achieve our goal this time we have allied with the JDS, despite criticism. The alliance will help us gain votes.

Q: Is it realistic to expect a shakeup of the majority government, which won 135 seats and implemented five guarantees?

A: The recent 5-state elections have altered the political landscape, revealing discontent among the people. People haven’t voted for the (Congress) guarantees. In Telangana, we lost due to our lacunas in leadership. The Congress government’s reliance on guarantees may not secure its position for the full term, especially with growing dissatisfaction among MLAs. The BJP is confident in winning at least 150 seats in the next state elections.