Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday forecast a significant political upheaval in the state by November, hinting at a potential change in the Congress-led government’s leadership amid ongoing tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra suggested that the shift could occur before or after the Bihar elections, stating, “No one can stop it from happening.”

Vijayendra criticized the Congress government’s upcoming “Sadhana Samavesha” convention in Mysuru, set for July 19, where development projects worth over Rs 2,600 crore will be inaugurated. He alleged the event is a strategic move by Siddaramaiah to “blackmail” the Congress high command, leveraging his AHINDA (minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) vote bank to secure his position as CM. “This is not about achievements but a conspiracy to threaten the high command,” he claimed, noting Siddaramaiah’s recent failure to secure a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

The BJP leader accused Siddaramaiah of holding such conventions only when his CM post is threatened, using AHINDA communities as political capital. He questioned the government’s achievements, particularly in Mysuru, and pointed to a June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, which killed 11 people, blaming it on the publicity rivalry between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Vijayendra alleged that innocent police officers and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were scapegoated to shield the leaders.

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Speculation about a rotational CM arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has persisted since Congress’s 2023 Assembly election victory, despite both leaders denying a formal agreement. Vijayendra referenced Congress leaders’ admissions of a 2.5-year power-sharing deal, suggesting Siddaramaiah’s tenure is nearing its end. “The situation has arisen for the CM to resign,” he asserted, predicting clarity in the coming months.

As the opposition, Vijayendra emphasized the BJP’s role in exposing the Congress government’s failures, expressing satisfaction with their efforts. He remained non-committal on the BJP’s direct involvement in the predicted developments, focusing instead on the ruling party’s internal strife.

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