BJP’s Dharmasthala gamble turns into a self-inflicted wound

 The much-anticipated BJP rally at Dharmasthala, billed as a show of solidarity with the Heggade family and a demonstration of saffron strength, has instead left the party red-faced. Far from projecting unity and mass support, the event exposed the deep fissures within the party and ended as a public relations disaster that the leadership will find hard to contain.

The first setback was visible in the very body language of the leaders who attended. Far from standing together, senior figures aligned to rival camps did not greet one another, nor even exchange glances. Some leaders who had earlier voiced support for the Heggade family were denied an opportunity to speak on stage, a humiliation that prompted walkouts. R. Ashok, a veteran with considerable standing, was practically shown the door mid-proceedings, while Sunil Kumar, known to be close to the Heggades, also left in protest. The event, dominated by state president B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, stole the show.

Numbers added to the embarrassment. The party had declared that it would gather one lakh people at the Dharmasthala event. Observers, however, placed the turnout at less than 20,000 — a fraction of the expected crowd. The lack of local people’s participation was striking, suggesting that enthusiasm for the rally was minimal despite the symbolic setting of Dharmasthala.

Sensing that the rally had fallen flat, Vijayendra and his loyalists tried to salvage the moment by shifting focus to the Soujanya case. They adjourned to the house of the deceased student, hoping to turn tragedy into an opportunity for political optics. The plan too, however, misfired. The family was cold in their reception, and Vijayendra’s attempt to assure Soujanya’s mother that the party would back her if she approached the Supreme Court carried little weight.

The reason was obvious: the BJP has long been accused of standing with those implicated in the crime. Against that backdrop, any expression of support rang hollow, and the visit appeared more like intrusion than solidarity. Instead of earning goodwill, the BJP handed the Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah an easy opening to brand the party as playing a “double game” — rallying behind the accused while posturing as defenders of the victim’s family.

Taken together, the rally and the ill-fated visit have created a double setback. The first is organizational: the inability to mobilize crowds and the open display of factionalism weaken Vijayendra’s authority just as he seeks to consolidate leadership. The second is moral: the mishandling of the Soujanya family visit damages the BJP’s credibility on an issue that resonates deeply in coastal Karnataka.

Politics in the region is often shaped as much by sentiment as by arithmetic. By appearing opportunistic and divided, the BJP has not only failed to project strength but has also alienated a grieving family and gifted its opponents fresh ammunition. What was meant to be a show of solidarity has instead become a symbol of the party’s disarray — a gamble that backfired spectacularly.