BS Yediyurappa’s Maha campaign not of much help to BJP

Bengaluru: Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's attempts to woo Lingayat voters  of Maharashtra have not greatly helped the BJP in its Assembly elections, although the party had high expectations from him and  chose him as one of its star campaigners for the poll.

Mr Yediyurappa and his deputy, Laxman Savadi campaigned in Jath, Akkalwadi, Sangli and Kolhapur areas of Maharashtra, where Lingayat voters are a deciding factor in elections. Mr Savadi, who was also in charge of Sangli and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra, spent more than a week in each district, campaigning hard for the party.

But the results show that except in Kolhapur constituency, which has gone to the Shiv Sena, the NCP and Congress alliance has won a majority of seats in the Lingayat-dominated districts.  The Chief Minister was expected to swing results in favour of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in three to five constituencies of Maharashtra, according to his close associates. But although he was able to attract crowds,  this did not turn into votes, they say.

The  party's  poor performance in the flood- affected districts of Maharashtra as well has left the state BJP worried about its prospects in the 15 Assembly byelections due in December in Karnataka, according to party sources.

The Maharashtra government and Centre's apathy in helping the flood victims of that state is believed to have cost the BJP a few seats in its flood affected districts and party leaders fear this could impact the byelections in Gokak and Kagawad assembly constituencies of flood- hit  Belagavi district in Karnataka.

They are anxious as the Yediyurappa government has failed to keep its promise of providing houses to those who lost their homes in the floods in Belagavi and Bagalkote,  and the delay in release of funds by the Centre  to help the flood victims.