In a surprise move, the mantle of Karnataka BJP chief has passed from Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to a lesser-known MP from the Hindutva hotbed of Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel.
Once Yediyurappa was sworn in as CM, the names of veterans like R Ashok and Arvind Limbavali began doing the rounds as his replacement. Both the MLAs are from Bengaluru and are considered close to Yediyurappa. However, Ashok was inducted into the cabinet while Limbavali remains sidelined, despite his key role in toppling the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.
Many see Kateel’s appointment as the BJP leadership’s desire to intensify its Hindutva thrust in Karnataka. As recently as this month Katell reportedly had a non-bailable warrant issued against him for a speech he made in 2017. Experts believe that the message from the high command is clear - that the final decision rests with them and that they are choosing to reward and not penalise Kateel for his brand of politics.
In the run-up to this year’s Lok Sabha elections, Kateel had stirred the communal pot by comparing Godse and Rajiv Gandhi on Twitter, saying in Kannada: ‘Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is more cruel in this?’
Who is Nalin Kumar Kateel?
Kateel is a three-time MP from the Dakshina Kannada (DK) region, that is widely known to be communally polarised, with a stark Hindu-Muslim divide. Coastal Karnataka has reportedly recorded over 1,000 incidents of moral policing and communal violence from 2010-2017.
He is also a Bunt, a meat-eating peasant community who exert considerable influence in DK. This sets him apart from CM Yediyurappa, who is a Lingayat.
Kateel reportedly describes himself as a ‘life-long RSS worker’, having joined the organisation as an 18-year-old. He credits the RSS for ‘guiding him’ and teaching him to ‘face challenges’ after his ‘difficult childhood’ in a ‘nondescript village’.
According to The News Minute, he was initially the follower of RSS strongman Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat but once differences arose between him and BL Santhosh, now the BJP’s organisational general secretary, he started supporting the latter.
He also reportedly played a key role in organising BJP’s protests in Kerala over the entry of women to Sabarimala shrine last year. Known mostly for commanding cadre support, political observers told The Quint that Kateel would be expected to replicate this across the state.
Move Towards Aggressive Hindutva
Calling Kateel, a ‘home-grown RSS man’, Chandan Gowda, political observer and professor at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru, said that Kateel’s penchant for inflammatory speeches sets him apart from others.
“Despite having roots in the RSS, Yediyurappa doesn’t speak like an RSS man. Kateel speaks the same (Hindutva) language, he is of a different breed (than Yediyurappa). We can confidently say that he has been chosen to re-emphasise investment in a certain type of politics,” he said.
Gowda added that the BJP in Karnataka is trying to project a new type of leadership. “If you see any of the candidates, they don’t have the stature to garner state-wide support. This is their chance to groom a new type of leader.”
BJP Leadership Puts Yediyurappa in His Place
According to Gowda, naming Kateel as chief is a clear indication that that the high-command has the final say.
“One thing is clear that at the local level, he was not in the reckoning. It is possible that it was done to ensure representation of the Dakshina Kannada region, but it is also about telling Yediyurappa that he cannot have his way. In all likelihood, this decision was by the CM’s adversary BL Santhosh and a message from the high command. ”
Historically, the BJP in Karnataka has two unofficial factions. First, the faction led by Yediyurappa, which brings the Lingayat vote bank. Second is the RSS faction, which believes in Hindutva politics and is much closer to the central leadership.
The RSS faction has been wanting to replace Yediyurappa and project someone younger as they did in Maharashtra.
“They have taken a risk, they may have overestimated his abilities. Kateel was able to capitalise on the resentment against Muslim traders in DK, and also had the support of lower-caste fishermen, a big vote bank. These conditions don’t exist in other regions. Let us see how he does.”Chandan Gowda to The Quint
Kateel has been quoted as saying that the entire party will work under the leadership of Yediyurappa and he is reportedly keen to replicate the ‘coastal model’ in other regions. But as state BJP chief, his first task will be to quell the disgruntlement in the party and strengthen the cadre for the inevitable by-polls later this year.
(With inputs from The Times of India and The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)