Didn't expect Vijayendra's appointment as K'taka BJP chief, never asked party leadership for it: BSY
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said he did not expect that his son B Y Vijayendra would be appointed the party's Karnataka unit president, and he had never asked for it with the party leadership in New Delhi.
The former Chief Minister expressed confidence that Vijayendra will take every one in the party together to strengthen the organisation, and ensure that the BJP wins more than 25 out of total 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, during the upcoming polls.
"None of us had expected, whether you believe it or not, not even a single day I had asked anyone in Delhi to make Vijayendra the state President. You can ask anyone," Yediyurappa said in response to a question, whether he expected Vijayendra's appointment as state President.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the final decision was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda. "I had no role in between."
The BJP on Friday appointed Vijayendra, the younger son of Yediyurappa, as its state unit president. He was until now the state vice-president of the party.
The 47-year-old, who is the first time MLA from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district is replacing Nalin Kumar Kateel, a three-time Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, who had completed his three-year term as the BJP state president, and was given an extension last year in view of the impending Assembly elections.
Noting that party workers across the state are celebrating Vijayendra's appointment as the state President with enthusiasm, Yediyurappa said, at an appropriate time Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Nadda have taken a right decision.
"We will travel across the state in the days to come, the upcoming Lok Sabha election is our target. With an aim to win over 25 seats, we have already begun the work. I will travel across the state on a much larger scale, he (Vijayendra) too will travel separately. Together we will all work to win more Lok Sabha seats, at the time when a leader like Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, we should not get less than 25 seats from Karnataka," he said.
Responding to a question about Congress calling Vijayendra's appointment -- a proof for 'dynasty politics' in BJP, Yediyurappa said, "Let them make such allegations, no issue. After travelling across the state and looking at the response of the people, let them react."
Taking a swipe at the BJP, accusing it of "dynasty politics", the Congress in Karnataka on Friday posted on 'X': "Congratulations to son of Yediyurappa, who has been elected as the new state president of BJP on the merit of him being Yediyurappa's son."
To a question, whether the road ahead will be tough for Vijayendra, Yediyurappa said, no role is easy for a person, after taking over the responsibility.
"To win 25 Lok Sabha seats, one has to travel across the state, strengthen the organisation. As party workers are enthusiastic, I believe reaching that goal will not be difficult," he added.
Asserting that Vijayendra will strive to take every one together in the party, the state BJP strongman said, "We will see to it that no one leaves the party and will make efforts to bring back those, who have gone out."
Asked about Vijayendra's appointment upsetting several senior leaders in the party, he said, "there is no such thing, no one has expressed any disgruntlement. Everyone has unitedly welcomed it (appointment)."
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
