The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, March 26 expelled Karnataka’s Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for six years over ‘anti-party’ remarks. The controversial legislator had repeatedly targeted his colleagues including party’s state president BY Vijayayendra.
BJP's Central Disciplinary Committee secretary Om Pathak in a letter expelling Yatnal, said, “Central Disciplinary Committee of the party has considered your response to the show-cause notice dated 10th February 2025 and has taken serious note of your repeated violations of the party discipline, despite your assurances of good behavior and conduct in response to earlier show cause notices.”
“It has accordingly been decided to expel you for a period of 6 [six] years with immediate effect from the primary membership of the party and you stand removed from any party position that you may hold until now,” the letter further said.
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has been at the center of several controversies. He recently made derogatory remarks against Ranya Rao and also accused state chief BY Vijayendra of “corruption” and “adjustment politics”.
Recently, he was booked for his derogatory remarks against Ranya Rao, an accused in the high-profile gold smuggling case.
Upset over the party’s leadership, Yatnal recently questioned why his name was not being considered for the post of chief minister or party state president. "I haven’t looted anyone, haven’t badmouthed anyone, and haven’t broken anyone’s house. I haven’t engaged in anti-party activities," Yatnal remarked, indirectly criticising his party colleagues.
Earlier, he had targeted BS Yediyurappa, urging the former Chief Minister to focus on the party rather than his son, BY Vijayendra. He accused Vijayendra of having close ties with Karnataka Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
It may be remembered that in December 2024, 32 district presidents petitioned the BJP’s central leadership for disciplinary action against Yatnal following his public criticism of Vijayendra.