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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Rahul Gandhi joins Haryana Congress leader's 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram
Gurugram (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined the 'Sadbhav Yatra' of Haryana Congress leader Brijendra Singh here.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reached Gurugram in the evening and joined the yatra. He also walked some distance with Brijendra, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and other leaders.
Huge crowds had turned up for the occasion.
Later, Gandhi proceeded to the venue where he addressed a public gathering.
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, B K Hariprasad, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh, were also present.
Brijendra Singh had on Thursday said it is a matter of joy for them that Gandhi was joining the 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram-Badshahpur, "thereby strengthening the Indian National Congress' campaign for brotherhood and harmony".
The 'Sadbhav Yatra' began from Danoda village at Narwana in Jind on October 5, 2025, and has covered 85 of the 90 assembly segments in the state.
The foot march was started by Brijendra Singh, son of Congress veteran Birender Singh, to highlight several national and regional issues.
State Congress chief Rao Narender Singh had asked all party leaders to take part in Friday's event.
Days before his yatra began in October, Brijendra Singh, who narrowly lost the 2024 assembly polls from Jind's Uchana Kalan, accused the ruling BJP of playing "divisive politics" and said that "sadbhav" (harmony) has come under stress in the last decade.
Brijendra Singh was a sitting MP from Hisar for the BJP when he resigned ahead of the 2024 general election and switched over to the Congress. He also alleged that the saffron party creates a wedge in society to achieve its political purpose.
The 'padyatra' has so far covered 85 assembly constituencies in Haryana, traversing more than 2,700 kilometres.
Addressing the public gathering, Brijendra Singh said the yatra is inspired by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he took the party's vision and values directly to the people of the country.
Singh said the yatra has highlighted issues like "Vote Chori" (vote theft), unemployment, poor law and order situation, agrarian distress, and issues related to government employees, labourers and traders.
"Sadbhav (harmony) and bhaichara (brotherhood), which the BJP is attempting to weaken, are the messages of this yatra," he said, adding that its slogan is "Congress ka haath bhaichara ka saath".
"This yatra is a natural extension of the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Brijendra Singh said.
