The rebel faction of the BJP which is opposing the leadership of BY Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, returned disappointed from Delhi as the central leadership reportedly refused to meet any of them. Even as Vijayendra’s supporters have announced a massive convention to display their strength, the rebel BJP leaders are suggesting names of other leaders who can be made president of the state unit of the BJP.
Several BJP MLAs and former ministers, including Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, GM Siddeshwara, Kumar Bangarappa, Arvind Limbavali, Anna Saheb Jolle, Srimanth Patil, and BP Harish have openly opposed Vijayendra’s leadership. Several of them camped in Delhi in the last few days but reportedly began to return on Wednesday after central leaders such as National President JP Nadda, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah refused to meet them.
Meanwhile, the rebel faction has met former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai and is consulting senior leaders, particularly from the influential Lingayat and Veerashaiva communities.
Sources indicate that a meeting of Lingayat leaders will take place at the official residence of Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V Somanna, in New Delhi soon. Previously neutral, Somanna is now backing the rebels. His rift with Yediyurappa deepened after the former CM allegedly ensured his defeat against Siddaramaiah in the last assembly elections.
The rebels aim to convey to the BJP high command that Vijayendra is not the undisputed leader of the Lingayat community and that alternative leaders should be considered. They have also proposed former minister B Sriramulu, a prominent leader from the oppressed classes, as a potential alternative for the state BJP president’s post.
In response, Vijayendra’s camp convened a meeting in Bengaluru at the residence of former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu to strategize against the rebellion. Former minister MP Renukacharya announced plans for a grand convention on February 12 to rally support for Vijayendra.
Following the event, party leaders will visit New Delhi to urge the BJP high command to retain him as state president.
Taking a swipe at rebel leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Renukacharya accused him of betraying Yediyurappa, who had once given him political opportunities. “You speak of corruption, but you were once a tipper driver and conductor. How did you come to own a sugar factory worth hundreds of crores?” he questioned.
He further alleged that Yatnal is working at the behest of Karnataka’s Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, to weaken the BJP. He claimed that Yatnal, despite hailing from Babaleshwara, contested from Vijayapura in collusion with Minister Patil.