Rift in Karnataka BJP: Vijayendra confident of retaining post, Yatnal pushes further for change
Bengaluru: In the wake of growing divisions within the Karnataka BJP, state president B.Y. Vijayendra has expressed confidence in retaining his position, while senior leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has strongly opposed his leadership. Yatnal has vowed to fight for a change in the state leadership, declaring that he is ready to go to any extent to achieve it.
On Friday, leaders supporting Yatnal gathered at the residence of former minister Kumar Bangarappa in Sadashivanagar to discuss their strategy. The meeting was attended by former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, former MLAs B.P. Harish and Holalkere Chandrappa, former MPs B.V. Nayak and G.M. Siddeshwar, and others. Their primary agenda was to push for a change in the BJP’s state leadership.
Sources indicate that if the BJP high command decides to elect a new state president through an internal election, the Yatnal faction is considering fielding its own candidate. A delegation from the group is expected to visit Delhi soon to finalize their strategy.
After the meeting, Yatnal told reporters that he is fully prepared to take on the role of BJP state president. He claimed that a neutral group within the party is shifting its loyalty toward his camp, and those trying to save the party are gaining strength. He made it clear that his faction would not accept Vijayendra’s leadership under any circumstances.
“We have not yet decided on the final candidate to challenge him, but this dictatorship must end. We are ready for a fight—do or die,” Yatnal said. He also accused Vijayendra of corruption, recalling how he had previously led a padayatra demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation over the MUDA scam, only to be countered by Siddaramaiah’s camp.
Meanwhile, former minister Arvind Limbavali met BJP national president J.P. Nadda in Delhi and submitted a report related to the Waqf board. He is also believed to have discussed the ongoing political turmoil in the Karnataka BJP.
Despite the opposition, Vijayendra remains confident about his position. Speaking in Kalaburagi, he confirmed his decision to contest for the post again and acknowledged that internal challenges were inevitable in a political party. He admitted that winning over senior leaders was not always easy and that he might have some shortcomings. However, he assured that once the election process for the state president is completed, all differences within the party would be addressed.
Vijayendra emphasized the need to unite all communities and said that party workers were unhappy with the current situation. He mentioned that district presidents would be appointed first, followed by the state unit president's election. He reiterated that he was determined to continue as the BJP state president.
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Three arrested in stone-pelting incident in Chikkamagaluru
Chikkamagaluru: Police have arrested three persons in connection with a recent stone-pelting incident at a house in the city’s Vijayapura locality and the violence that followed.
The arrested persons have been identified as Bharat (23) of Gauri kaluve, Dilip (27) of Ramanahalli, and Harish, the owner of the motorcycle allegedly used in the incident.
According to police, the accused had been moving around near the complainant’s house on motorcycles for three days prior to the incident. The investigation has also revealed that there had been an earlier argument between the accused and the complainant.
Police said further inquiry is under way to determine the exact motive behind the stone-pelting and whether others were involved.
