BENGALURU
Admitting shortcomings in the party’s recent by-election performance, Union Minister V Somanna on Wednesday said the BJP should have functioned with greater unity and coordination, stressing that lack of teamwork had hurt its prospects.
Speaking to reporters in the city, Somanna said every leader shared responsibility for the defeat and that the party must introspect collectively. “We should have worked as a team. Teamwork has been a stumbling block. Everyone, including me, has a responsibility,” he said, adding that he would not single out any individual for blame.
Calling the loss “painful”, the senior leader expressed confidence that the party would recover and perform better in future elections. “If there is a country, there is a party, and we belong to the party. Keeping that in mind, we should have worked together. Things will improve,” he noted.
Somanna, however, took a swipe at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that the Congress secured victory through “money power and wrong means”. He also criticised the ruling party’s stance on issues such as women’s reservation, warning that Congress could face setbacks similar to those witnessed in other states if it failed to address key concerns.
Highlighting BJP’s performance elsewhere, Somanna said the party had achieved significant success in multiple states and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders for their efforts. He also referred to electoral developments in West Bengal, claiming that voters had rejected violence and misgovernance.
On former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s birthday celebrations scheduled for May 9, Somanna said he had been invited and would attend if possible. “I understand it is being organised in a non-partisan manner. Yediyurappa has worked with many leaders,” he said.
Responding to speculation about his possible elevation as BJP’s state president, Somanna maintained that the decision rests entirely with the party high command. “There is a state president now. The leadership will decide. Everything is by God’s grace and people’s blessings,” he added.