Internal divisions escalate ahead of next Assembly polls
Mysuru: What party activists and local leaders had long described as latent factionalism in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become public after a protest in T Narasipura over a Ganesha immersion procession route, according to party sources. The dispute pits supporters of former MP Pratap Simmha against the camp of Mysuru city unit president L Nagendra, revolving around candidate selection, local development priorities and political tactics in Chamaraja and neighbouring areas.
Party sources said the tensions have been simmering since the 2023 Assembly elections, when Nagendra lost the Chamaraja seat to Congress candidate K Harishgowda. Supporters of Nagendra continue to maintain that backroom manoeuvres by rival groups contributed to that defeat, and the rivalry hardened after Simmha indicated he may seek the Chamaraja ticket for the 2028 Assembly polls.
A senior BJP leader described a sequence of actions that exacerbated mistrust between the two sides. The row widened after Nagendra's supporters put up birthday hoardings across Chamaraja; shortly afterwards Simmha announced plans to file a public interest litigation against illegal hoardings and flex boards in the area. That move was perceived by Nagendra's camp as an indirect attack and contributed to sharper divisions, the leader said.
“Although Simmha has been opposing illegal hoardings for a long time, Nagendra’s supporters viewed his latest move as an indirect attack on Nagendra. This further widened the chasm between the two camps.”
Sources added the disagreement spilled into the open around the planning and format of a protest in T Narasipura over the immersion route for a Ganesha idol procession. The state unit reportedly differed on whether the demonstration should be an overnight vigil or conclude by evening, leaving the local unit divided over tactics. The protest itself also drew criticism when Opposition leader R Ashoka was seen carrying an idol while wearing footwear during the event, which further attracted negative attention.
- Main personalities: Pratap Simmha, L Nagendra, R Ashoka, S A Ramadas (largely inactive), K Harishgowda.
- Core issues: Candidate selection for Mysuru civic and Assembly polls, implementation of the PNG scheme, development works in Chamaraja.
- Trigger events: Birthday hoardings in Chamaraja, a PIL against illegal hoardings, and disagreements over protest format in T Narasipura.
The rivalry has local electoral implications. BJP activists cautioned that continuing public feuding could hand an advantage to the ruling Congress in upcoming civic and Assembly contests, particularly in high‑stakes constituencies such as Chamaraja. With veteran leaders including former minister S A Ramadas reportedly less active in day‑to‑day party affairs, rank‑and‑file members said there was a leadership vacuum that intensified factional competition.
| Camp | Key grievance |
|---|---|
| Pratap Simmha supporters | Opposition to illegal hoardings; eyeing Chamaraja ticket for 2028 |
| L Nagendra loyalists | Allege sabotage in 2023 elections; emphasise local development and civic presence |
Local BJP workers urged the state leadership to intervene and resolve differences before they become entrenched. Party activists warned that unless senior leaders broker a reconciliation, rival camps could adopt more confrontational tactics that might affect campaigning and organisational coherence in the run‑up to municipal and Assembly polls.
Observers say the public nature of the dispute reflects a broader trend in urban party units where local aspirations and personality politics often intersect with state‑level calculations. For Mysuru, where civic infrastructure and ward‑level politics increasingly shape voter sentiment, an unresolved intra‑party fight could reshape candidate choices and electoral strategies ahead of 2028.
The BJP state leadership has not announced any formal mediation, and the contours of the dispute remain fluid. Local activists emphasised the urgency of an early, internal resolution to prevent further erosion of grassroots support and to present a united front against the Congress in forthcoming contests.
