Bengaluru: A bit of insurgent Karnataka BJP leaders is making renewed makes an attempt to place stress on the get together’s prime management to switch state unit chief B. Y. Vijayendra, a first-time MLA and son of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

The insurgent MLAs and leaders together with Ramesh Jarkiholi, Kumar Bangarappa, B.P. Harish, Shrimanth Patil, N.S. Santosh, and others have been tenting in Delhi since Tuesday night, and have met Union Minister of State and senior BJP chief V. Somanna. 

The revolt throughout the state BJP began simmering proper after Vijayendra was made the state get together chief in November 2023, overlooking a number of different senior members. Vijayendra is a first-time MLA from Shikaripura in Shivamogga, a seat represented by his father till 2023. 

The dissent—overt and covert—was led by leaders reminiscent of Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Jarkiholi, C.T. Ravi, Prathap Simha and several other others who accused the Yediyurappa household of corruption, dynastic and “adjustment” politics, and never remaining true to the BJP’s bigger explanation for Hindutva. 

The BJP took motion towards a few of these leaders to calm the state of affairs, however with little success. The revolt has resurfaced. And it comes at a time the ruling Congress seems to have quelled dissent inside, and struck a short lived truce between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.Okay. Shivakumar. 

Chatting with ThePrint Wednesday on the situation of anonymity, one of many BJP rebels advised ThePrint, “A month in the past, we ran round, and thought he (Vijayendra) would get replaced nevertheless it didn’t occur. How will the excessive command additionally reveal its plans to us so simply? It’s a nationwide get together and these items are achieved with some degree of secrecy,” 

However the BJP insurgent part is hopeful it may well persuade the highest brass this time to switch Vijayendra on the earliest.

Vijayendra’s father and former chief minister Yediyurappa continues to carry vital sway throughout the get together, forcing the central management to tread rigorously. Yediyurappa can be the undisputed political chief of the dominant Lingayats within the state.  

M.P. Renukacharya, a former minister and Yediyurappa loyalist, advised ThePrint, “Irrespective of who goes to Delhi, they can not affect the get together excessive command to alter something. Yediyurappa is the one who constructed the get together (in Karnataka). These makes an attempt will show futile and Vijayendra will proceed because the state president.” 

One other senior chief stated solely the Modi-Shah duo can take such a choice, however sounded assured that Vijayendra can be changed on the earliest. 

With the Karnataka BJP combating divisions inside, it has not been capable of current a united entrance. It has prevented the BJP from successfully difficult the Siddaramaiah-led authorities on alleged corruption or the ability tussle between the chief minister and his deputy.

Stated a BJP chief, requesting anonymity, “If the get together needed to take away Vijayendra, it will have achieved so by now. It’s solely once they need to retain somebody, they search for causes to do the identical. To take away somebody, they don’t must bide time.”

---

Additionally Learn: New twist in Karnataka BJP revolt, MLA says get together state chief Vijayendra behind Revanna video leak

---

‘No appointment’ 

The individual cited above stated that the insurgent leaders who’re in Delhi haven’t acquired any appointment with the highest BJP management or any senior leaders, however are capable of “stroll into their chambers” because the Parliament session is on. 

“They stroll into the chambers of those leaders, trade pleasantries, take footage and depart. There’s nothing extra to it.” This, he stated, is being interpreted as a “win” for the insurgent faction which is way from the reality. 

The BJP tried to comprise the rising factionalism by taking motion towards some leaders. In March, it expelled Yatnal, one of many outstanding leaders of the insurgent group, for ‘anti-party actions’. It additionally expelled S.T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar.  

On the identical time, it issued present trigger notices to leaders from the Yatnal camp—B.P. Harish—and the Vijayendra camp—Katta Subramanya Naidu and M.P. Renukacharya. However these steps have had little impression.

‘Now not BJP’ 

Whereas Yatnal is a vocal critic of Yediyurappa and Vijayendra, the others had voted for the Congress candidate Ajay Maken within the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. However all those that had been expelled and served notices have solely doubled down on their respective positions. 

Yatnal, Somashekar and Hebbar proceed as MLAs, however they’re now being categorized as  ‘unattached members’ with the BJP in brackets. The BJP has not approached the Speaker to get these MLAs disqualified from the meeting both. 

“As soon as any expulsion occurs and the anti-defection legislation doesn’t come into power, they’re free to do what they need. There isn’t any query of going to the Speaker in search of any dismissal. As soon as we expel them from the get together, we don’t retain the suitable to try this,” Malvika Avinash, a spokesperson for the BJP, advised ThePrint. 

With the BJP now down to simply 62 members within the 224-member home, the get together can ill-afford to take away extra legislators and produce its tally additional down. Within the 2023 state elections, the BJP received simply 66 seats, down from 104 within the 2018 elections. 

Its ally, the JD(S), received 19 seats, however its present power is eighteen. Its chief Kumaraswamy vacated his Channapatana seat after he turned MP. The Congress acquired the seat within the bypolls.

The Congress had received 136 seats, and claims to have the assist of Independents and the assist of no less than two expelled BJP legislators. 

The BJP, individuals conscious of the developments say, is unwilling to take any determination that may additional irritate the precarious place of the get together within the southern state, particularly with the Winter Session of the legislature scheduled to start subsequent week.

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)

---

Additionally Learn: From marginalising Yediyurappa to expelling his major detractor, BJP has come full circle in Karnataka

---