How Karnataka polls outcome will impact BL Santhosh's future in BJP

New Delhi: The Karnataka Assembly polls will be keenly watched by the rank and file in the Bharatiya Janata Party as it is expected to decide on the future of its National General Secretary (Organization) BL Santhosh.

Sources stated that Santhosh, an old Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh hand from Karnataka, has taken the lead in strategic planning and implementation of the saffron unit’s poll game plan in the southern state. It is understood that Santhosh holds sway on the selection of candidates in the state for the forthcoming polls and will have the most impact on the electoral outcome for the BJP.

If the BJP is successful in returning to power in Karnataka, the stature of Santhosh is expected to increase immensely and he is expected to become immensely powerful in the saffron unit ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

However, any loss suffered by the saffron unit in Karnataka is expected to adversely affect the morale of the party and its cadre and hence the need to rejig its leadership ahead of 2024 polls, sources pointed out.

There has been a buzz recently that Santhosh may also move to Karnataka politics if things do not end up as planned.

The 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly is set to go for polls in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Karnataka was the first state to have elected a BJP government in the southern part of India and is considered to be immensely important for the BJP which plans to expand its base in southern India.

The return to power in Karnataka will be crucial as the party plans to expand its footprint. The state elects 28 MPs to the lower house of the Parliament. Of these, the BJP had secured 25 seats with one seat secured by an NDA ally in the 2019 general elections and the saffron unit hopes to retain its strength of seats from Karnataka in the 2024 general elections.

And the saffron front is treading carefully as it wants to make a comeback in its southern Indian bastion in the 2023 Assembly polls, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to seek his third term in 2024.

Will Sunil Bansal’s role increase in case of Karnataka defeat?

In the case of poor performance and a loss suffered by the saffron unit in Karnataka, speculation is rife regarding the imminent change in the important post of the National General Secretary (Organization) ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The position is considered one of the most important posts in the party. And the incumbent is responsible for better coordination between the party and its ideological parent the RSS, discussing and finalises strategy on political and election issues. The person holding this post is loaned from RSS for effective supervision of the organizational tasks and can be repatriated to the Sangh.

Santhosh was promoted at the national level with an eye on the expansion of the BJP in South India. In mid-2019, Santhosh was moved to the position of National General Secretary (Organisation) in the place of Ramlal. In case of a bad performance in Karnataka, a change in his role is expected.

The recent posting of Sunil Bansal as National General Secretary has created a buzz as the party embarks on the preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Sources pointed out that Bansal is known to be close to former BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Bansal played a crucial and successful role in getting the party repeated victories in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh in both Assembly (2017 and 2022) and Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

As part of his expanded role, Bansal has recently been given the charge of West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana as the party’s National General Secretary. These are the states where the BJP is trying to make its mark at both the Assembly and Lok Sabha levels with an eye on the future polls as it tries to expand beyond its traditional base of states in North and West India.