As Karnataka polls draw near, BJP grapples with wave of factionalism in state now

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 2, 2026 15:35 IST

Karnataka's political corridors are never boring. They are constantly witnessing one factional war or another. For nearly three years after winning the Karnataka Assembly election in 2023, it was the Congress that remained consumed by an unending debate over leadership, with repeated tussles between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Today, as the Assembly elections inch closer with less than two years remaining, it's the BJP that has been hit by a new wave of factionalism.

While the Congress has largely managed to contain its internal rivalries and project a united front, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself battling cross-voting, leadership crisis, rebellion, and open attacks among its leaders.

What began as murmurs against the state leadership has now snowballed into one controversy after another, exposing deep cracks within the Karnataka BJP at a time when the party is gearing up for the 2028 Assembly election. Karnataka is crucial for the BJP as it is considered the party's gateway to southern India. It remains the only southern state where the saffron party has demonstrated the ability to form a government on its own.

'KICK HIM OUT': EX-KARNATAKA CM's PURPORTED AUDIO CLIP ROCKS BJP

The latest flashpoint came with the circulation of an audio clip purportedly featuring former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Monday (June 29). In the recording, Gowda is allegedly heard suggesting that BJP state president BY Vijayendra should be "kicked out" after completing three years as state president in November, arguing that delaying the move by a couple of months would avoid creating further confusion within the party.

The audio, which is purportedly of Gowda, represents one of the strongest internal attacks on Vijayendra. However, Sadananda Gowda has categorically distanced himself from the clip, refusing to authenticate it and insisting that any investigation into its origin should be carried out independently.

Gowda also maintained that the party's internal matters should not be debated publicly and said he would respond only if approached by the BJP's national leadership.

Even as the authenticity of the audio remains disputed, its timing could hardly have been more damaging for the BJP.

CROSS-VOTING FIASCO THAT EXPOSED KARNATAKA BJP'S INTERNAL RIFT

The Karnataka BJP is still struggling to recover from the embarrassment of the recent Legislative Council (MLC) elections held on June 18, where as many as 11 BJP and its ally Janata Dal (Secular) party legislators reportedly cross-voted in favour of the Congress, while another BJP MLA cast an invalid vote.

Although the saffron party constituted a three-member fact-finding committee and received an interim report, no significant disciplinary action has yet been announced against those responsible.

The cross-voting episode has fuelled speculation that dissatisfaction with the current state leadership runs much deeper than previously acknowledged. Since then, several leaders have openly questioned organisational decisions and expressed reservations about the leadership of state president Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka.

The unease became visible when Vijayendra's proposal to hold the BJP legislature party meeting at the temple town Dharmasthala had to be shelved after resistance from senior leaders, including Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar, who publicly criticised the decision on social media. The cancellation was viewed as another indication that consensus within the party leadership is becoming increasingly difficult.

SPAT BETWEEN KARNATAKA BJP LEADERS AMID INFIGHTING

Another bitter confrontation unfolded between Sadananda Gowda and senior BJP MLA SR Vishwanath on Tuesday (June 30). Addressing reporters, the former Chief Minister launched an unprecedented attack on Vishwanath, accusing him of acquiring wealth with the patronage of late underworld figure Muthappa Rai, grabbing land and damaging the legacy of Bengaluru's founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.

Gowda alleged that Vishwanath had projected himself as an honest politician despite benefiting from questionable associations during his political rise.

The dispute centred around Kempegowda's legacy after Vishwanath reportedly objected to Gowda attending a public programme organised in the 16th-century ruler's name. Rejecting the criticism, Gowda argued that Kempegowda belonged to the people rather than any political party, adding that no organisation could claim exclusive ownership over his legacy.

The controversy over Kempegowda did not end there in the BJP.

BJP LEADERS ORGANISE KEMPEGOWDA EVENT TO SHOWCASE CLOUT

Just days earlier, Chikkaballapur MP and BJP leader K Sudhakar and Vishwanath found themselves locked in a political turf war over Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations on June 27. Vishwanath, who has traditionally organised the celebrations in Yelahanka, saw Sudhakar conduct a parallel programme in the same region for the first time. The rivalry quickly escalated into open political challenges.

Accusing Sudhakar of dividing BJP workers, Vishwanath challenged him to contest from Yelahanka, declaring that he himself was prepared to challenge Sudhakar in Chikkaballapur. Sudhakar responded with equal aggression, saying he was ready to contest from Yelahanka on the party's directions and dared Vishwanath to face him in Chikkaballapur. What should have been a cultural celebration to respect the founder of Bengaluru instead became a public display of factional rivalry within the BJP.

Former Karnataka BJP spokesperson MG Mahesh was expelled from the party for six years after he criticised the handling of the MLC elections during an internal virtual meeting. Mahesh maintained that he had merely reflected public opinion regarding cross-voting and organisational failures and insisted his remarks were intended to strengthen, not weaken, the party. His expulsion has been viewed by many observers as evidence of the leadership's attempt to enforce discipline amid growing dissent.

KARNATAKA BJP HAS A HISTORY OF FACTIONALISM

The Karnataka BJP has witnessed persistent internal resistance ever since BY Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, assumed the role of state president. Senior leaders Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and KS Eshwarappa repeatedly accused the state leadership of promoting family politics and centralising decision-making. Both leaders openly criticised Vijayendra's style of functioning and frequently questioned organisational decisions.

The rebellion eventually led to disciplinary action. Yatnal was expelled from the party, while Eshwarappa resigned after publicly rebelling against the leadership and contesting as an independent during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Although the BJP managed to contain that phase of dissent administratively, the underlying dissatisfaction appears to have resurfaced in different forms.

Political analysts point out that the current situation presents a striking contrast with developments inside the ruling Congress. For almost two years after forming the government, the Congress remained occupied with speculation over a possible power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Repeated rumours of a leadership change dominated Karnataka politics, but the party leadership largely managed to keep the government stable and minimise public confrontation.

In contrast, as the Congress appears to have found relative organisational stability, the BJP is confronting precisely the kind of internal uncertainty that once plagued its rival.

With less than two years left before Karnataka votes again, the BJP's biggest challenge may no longer be taking on the Congress but restoring cohesion within its own ranks. Whether the BJP leadership can resolve these differences before the election campaign gathers momentum will likely determine not only its electoral prospects but also whether Karnataka's political narrative continues to be dominated by governance — or by factional warfare within the opposition itself.

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