Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is standing firmly behind its Karnataka leader despite ongoing conflicts within the state unit. The party has taken action against a rebellious member and issued a formal notice to another, rejecting calls for the removal of BY Vijayendra as the party chief.
Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal received a notice highlighting his persistent criticisms and violations of party discipline, which he must address within the next 72 hours. Tensions have been rising since the last Lok Sabha elections, leading various factions within the party to seek audience with higher-ups in Delhi.
The group of rebels, which includes MLAs like Yatnal, BP Harish, former MLA Kumar Bangarappa, and ex-Union Minister GM Siddeshwara, had aimed to lodge a complaint against Karnataka’s state in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal. However, central leaders in Delhi, frustrated by the infighting in this key southern state, chose not to meet with the dissenters.
The dissenting faction did manage to connect with former Chief Minister and current BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai, but he reportedly declined to take charge of their group, insisting he would follow the party’s directives on leadership decisions.
The party’s senior members expressed their dismay over the rebels’ actions, as they felt it was damaging the BJP’s reputation. Moreover, former minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi faced criticism for misleading the media by claiming that the rebel group had met party president JP Nadda.
Recently, BJP MLA Suresh Gowda spoke in support of Vijayendra, emphasizing his effective leadership and urging that actions be taken against the rebel leaders. He pointed out that criticizing former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa was inappropriate, as such remarks could hurt the party’s grassroots workers. He stressed the importance of resolving issues within the party rather than airing grievances publicly.
