If I'm Karnataka CM candidate, BJP will easily get 150 seats: MLA Yatnal
Bengaluru, Aug 17: Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Wednesday claimed that he has all the eligibilities to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the party will easily win 150 seats in the 2023 assembly elections, if it goes to the polls under his leadership.
The Vijayapura City MLA, who is an open critic of state BJP strongman and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, congratulated the latter on his appointment to the Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee, and in the same breath recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement about ending dynastic politics.
"You might speculate about Yatnal getting the ticket (for assembly election), with Yediyurappa now in the Central Election Committee, but Yatnal will get the ticket and will become MLA next time too," the senior BJP legislator said.
When reporters asked about him becoming minister or the CM, he said, "I have all the eligibility. If I'm CM candidate, we will easily get 150 seats (in the 225-member assembly)."
The former Union minister, who had worked under then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, has earlier too expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions.
Though Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated that the BJP would go into the 2023 assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, there seems to be no unanimity within the party on this with several state leaders including Yediyurappa repeatedly speaking about collective leadership.
To a question on whether the party is in a position to win the polls without making any change in the leadership, Yatnal merely said the party high command is aware of everything and will take the right decision at the right time.
"We are confident that the high command will make the right decision to ensure that BJP comes back to power with full majority," he said.
Asked about Yediyurappa's appointment to the Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee, Yatnal said, once the high command has taken a decision, he will abide by it.
"The high command might have decided with some foresight...PM Modi during his Independence Day speech has clearly said dynastic politics will end...all of us should be prepared for it," he said.
Yatnal has been a known critic of Yediyurappa and his son B Y Vijayendra's political activities, and has even accused them of corruption and dynastic politics.
When pointed out to him that Yediyurappa was now in the committee which gives poll tickets, he said there have been instances in the past when the very members of that committee have not been able to get tickets for themselves.
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PoK belongs to India, we will take it back at any cost: Amit Shah
Sitamarhi (Bihar) (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and the country will take it back "at any cost".
Addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, the former BJP president slammed the Congress-led opposition for "raising fear about Pakistan's atomic power".
"When Article 370 was scrapped, Rahul Gandhi had said that it would lead to bloodshed. Five years have elapsed and not a pebble has been hurled. But Congress's ally Farooq Abdullah tries scaremongering by saying that we cannot take back PoK as Pakistan has atom bombs," Shah asserted.
"I wish to declare from the birthplace of Goddess Sita that Bharat and its 140 crore people fear no one. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is ours and it will remain so. We will take it back," he said.
Shah said the Modi government will also ensure full security along the India-Nepal border in its third term.
Attacking the INDIA bloc, he said, "Lalu Prasad-led RJD has joined hands with the Congress that opposed the Mandal Commission's recommendations but PM Modi has given respect to lakhs of people from the backward classes. Lalu joined hands with the Congress only to make his son, Tejashwi Yadav, the chief minister of Bihar... but the state needs 'vikasraj, not 'jungelraj'."
"Congress ruled the country for 60 years but did not think about welfare of 60 crore OBCs. Congress and RJD never thought of conferring Bharat Ratna on former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur... it was done by the Modi government," he said.
Shah said that the NDA government has decided to develop 'Punaura Dham Mandir', a temple in Sitamarhi district considered to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, as an international pilgrimage site.
"After Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, we will construct a massive temple of Sita Mata in Sitamarhi," he said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet has approved Rs 72.47 crore for the development of the temple.
Senior JD (U) leader and Bihar Legislative Council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur is the NDA nominee from Sitamarhi Lok Sabha seat.
Shah will address another election rally in Madhubani Lok Sabha seat later in the day.
Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur Lok Sabha seats will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.
