Internal tussle gets intensified as BJP rebels wind up their Delhi visit

BJP rebels intensify internal tussle in Karnataka unit, seeking resolution from central leaders by February 10.

The Delhi visit of BJP rebels to complain with the central leaders appears to have only intensified the internal tussle in the party’s Karnataka unit, even as they concluded their visit by claiming that they hope to get a “positive message” by February 10.

The team of BJP rebels comprising Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Kumar Bangarappa, and G.M. Siddeshwar, former MP, among others, wound up their Delhi visit on Wednesday, after meeting party central leaders to complain against State president B.Y. Vijayendra. They met some prominent party MPs, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

But even before the rebels wound up their trip, the supporters of Mr. Vijayendra who met in Bengaluru announced that they would visit Delhi soon to clarify various issues with the party’s central leaders and also to complain against the rebels for sullying the image of the party. They also announced that they would hold a meeting of prominent party leaders in Bengaluru on February 10.

BJP insiders feel that the internal tussle in the party is not only getting serious but will also cause irreparable damage to the party if the central leaders do not take immediate measures to end it. They said the party organisational work has already taken a hit due to the internal tussle.

Recalling how the BJP had lost the Assembly polls in Karnataka in 2013 after veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa walked away from it, the Vijayendra camp’s main leader and former Minister M.P. Renukacharya warned that the party would not win more than 10 seats if it replaces Mr. Vijayendra as party State president bowing to the pressure from the rebels.

Responding strongly to this, Mr. Yatnal told media persons in Delhi that the days when Mr. Yediyurappa used to be the Lingayat strongman were gone. “Mr. Vijayendra does not have any hold on Lingayats. His removal from the party chief’s post will not have any impact on the community,” he maintained and also accused Mr. Yediyurappa of trampling upon the political careers of several Lingayat leaders.

Amid these developments, BJP’s prominent ST leader B. Sriramulu, who had recently expressed pain over the party State in charge Radhamohan Das Agarwal blaming him for the BJP’s debacle in the byelection in Sandur, publicly expressed his desire to become the party State president. “If there is a situation wherein Mr. Vijayendra has to step down, I will vehemently appeal to Mr. Yediyurappa to make me the next State chief of the party organisation,” he told media persons in Kolar.