Karnataka BJP rift: Fighting to cleanse party, not for any position: Yatnal
Bengaluru, Feb 05 (PTI): Amid a factional rift within the party, senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, along with a group of party leaders seeking the ouster of B Y Vijayendra from the post of Karnataka unit president, said on Monday that their fight is to cleanse the party, not for any position.
The Bijapur City MLA repeatedly targeted Vijayendra and his father—veteran leader B S Yediyurappa—accusing them of "nepotism" and "corruption".
While leaders from Yatnal's faction, such as Ramesh Jarkiholi (MLA) and Kumar Bangarappa, who are up in arms against Vijayendra, are already in New Delhi to meet high-command leaders regarding their concerns, Yatnal is also expected to travel to the national capital.
According to party sources, Bangarappa met the party's national general secretary (organisation), B L Santosh, while Jarkiholi met Nadda and a few other leaders.
"All national leaders have given us time for a meeting, so don’t worry. Would we go without a plan? Are we mad? Everything will be sorted out if Vijayendra goes," Yatnal told reporters in response to a question.
Noting that three things should be made clear to the high command, he said, "They are keeping the corrupt family away, keeping the BJP away from dynasty politics, and that the BJP doesn't need non-Hindutva leadership.
"We (the party) say no to dynasty politics. I haven't engaged in dynasty politics so far. If he (Vijayendra) is made president once again, I will also demand a position for my son. I will ask that my son, too, be fielded for elections, as there are already three members of the Yediyurappa family in politics, including Shimoga MP B Y Raghavendra," he said.
Vijayendra was appointed as the state BJP president in November 2023. His elevation caused heartburn within the BJP, with several senior leaders repeatedly expressing their disgruntlement over his leadership and style of functioning. The Shikaripura MLA has been unable to douse the fire.
Several leaders, especially Yatnal and Ramesh Jarkiholi, have been openly critical of Vijayendra, accusing him of indulging in "adjustment politics" with the ruling Congress. They have also criticised him and his father, Yediyurappa, for trying to keep the party under their control.
Averring that his team's fight is not for any post but to cleanse the party, Yatnal said, "It is to make it as pure as the Ganga. I have no expectations of becoming the state president."
Reiterating their stand on contesting against Vijayendra for the party president post in the ongoing organisational polls, he said, "From our faction, we have decided on candidates for the president's post based on community, such as who should be chosen if the opportunity is given to backward classes, Dalits, or Lingayats. Accordingly, we will proceed. If the opportunity is given to the Lingayat community, I am ready."
On Kumar Bangarappa meeting with the party's national general secretary B L Santosh in Delhi, Yatnal said that they have decided among themselves who should meet which leader, instead of everyone going to one place.
"Almost all the parliament members are with us, except for one or two, like Vijayendra's elder brother (B Y Raghavendra)," he said.
Amid the ongoing organisational polls, Vijayendra expressed confidence on Monday about continuing to helm the state unit. He also hoped for a 'happy ending' in the outcome of the state presidential polls.
Responding to this, Yatnal said today, "Let the election happen. There is democracy; we will not back down. The importance of the election should be understood. Let the election happen, and we will present things to the party workers. Let him (Vijayendra), too."
Yatnal even claimed that Vijayendra, six months ago, had sent a three-member team for negotiations with him, along with an offer to send him to national politics by recommending his name for the party's national general secretary post, but he rejected it.
"Let him (Vijayendra) become national general secretary; he knows English well, I don't know English. Vijayendra had sent three people—N Ravi Kumar, Veeranna Charantimath, and Abhay Patil—to me for negotiations six months ago, offering to recommend my name for the post of party national general secretary. I said, let Vijayendra go, as he knows English well. I know Hindi and Kannada, so I will be here," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Dube, Chakravarthy star as India end league stage with 17-run win over Netherlands
Ahmedabad (PTI): Shivam Dube played a momentum changing knock before Varun Chakravarthy produced another incisive spell to set up India's convincing 17-run victory over the Netherlands in their final league fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
Despite the top-order struggles against off-spinner Aryan Dutt, India managed to make a challenging 193 for six courtesy the fireworks from Shivam Dube (66 off 31) in the second half of the innings.
The Netherlands were always behind in the chase and doors on them were shut by Chakravarthy (3/14 in 3 overs), who did the damage in the powerplay as well as in the middle overs.
Staying true to his strength, the mystery spinner relentlessly attacked the stumps, removing Colin Ackermann and Aryan Dutt in successive balls in the 13th over to leave the Netherlands at 94 for four.
Soon after, a well set Bas de Leede and captain Scott Edwards were dismissed, snuffing out all hopes for the associate nation who ended their campaign with three losses and a solitary win.
Zach Lion-Cachet (26 not out off 16) and Noah Croes (25 not out off 12) made things more interesting in the death overs but were left with too much to do despite collecting 18 runs from Hardik Pandya in the 19th over.
Expecting tougher battles ahead, Suryakumar Yadav chose to give the final over to Shivam Dube over Jasprit Bumrah. Despite two dropped catches, Dube was able to defend 28 off the last six balls as the Netherlands ended at 176/7 in 20 overs.
Overwhelming title favourites India now head into their opening Super 8 game against South Africa here as the only unbeaten team from Group A. However, they still have work to do against the spinners.
Opting to bat, India were hoping for Abhishek Sharma's return to form ahead of the Super 8, but the left-hander had to endure his third consecutive duck in the tournament. In the form of his life not so long ago, he is yet to score a run in his maiden ICC event.
It was the off-spin of Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, Usman Qadir and Saim Ayub that had troubled the Indians in the previous league games. On Wednesday, it was the turn of Indian-origin offie Dutt to shine against a star studded home team at the world's largest cricket stadium.
On the eve of the match day, the Indian batters focussed on their game against the spinners in the nets but going forward, they still have work to do.
While Dutt was the standout bowler, the variations used by the Netherlands pacers also tested the Indians.
Dutt, who is used to opening the bowling, was employed for three overs in the powerplay to counter the left-handed trio of Abhishek, Ishan Kishan (18 off 7) and Tilak Varma (31 off 27).
Having played two dot balls in the opening over, Abhishek went for the pull off a faster ball from Dutt only to see his stumps disturbed.
The in-form Kishan was quick to get off the blocks before falling to Dutt in a bizarre fashion. Trying to dispatch Dutt on the leg-side, Kishan played on to his stumps with the ball ricocheting from his thigh and elbow.
Tilak, who started with a crisp straight six off pacer Logan van Beek, fell to the same bowler in the ninth over with 41-year-old Roelof van der Merwe taking a stunner at long-off.
India would have been four down inside 10 overs had Michael Levitt not dropped a sitter off van Beek when Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 27) was on 13.
Having stuttered to
74/3 in 10 overs, Dube gave the innings the much-needed steam with half a dozen sixes, most of them in the cow corner region. He too was tested by Dutt initially before clearing his front leg to get a free flow of the arms to clear the ropes at will.
Dube shared a 76-run stand with Hardik (30 off 21) to provide the push in the last five overs that yielded 75 runs.
