Now, BJP rebels hold a meeting of Lingayat leaders to enlist their support

Rebel Lingayat leaders in BJP organize meeting to replace State president, sparking infighting and concern within the party.

Rebel leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday organised a meeting of Lingayat leaders in Bengaluru to enlist the support of the community in their fight for replacing party State president B.Y. Vijayendra, who also belongs to the community.

Over 60 Lingayat leaders, who are opposed to Mr. Vijayendra’s leadership, attended the meeting convened by Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, who leads the group, in Bengaluru.

All the leaders who attended the meeting maintained that there were “more prominent Lingayat leaders” in the BJP such as Mr. Yatnal and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. They also announced that a delegation of Lingayat leaders would go to Delhi soon to seek a leadership change in Karnataka.

The meeting of rebel Lingayats comes just a few days ahead of the election to the post of the party State president. It is being seen in the BJP as an attempt by the rebels, particularly Mr. Yatnal, to enlist the support of community members to counter Mr. Vijayendra, who is keen on retaining his post.

Meanwhile, the rebels’ action evoked a sharp response from Mr. Vijayendra’s camp. A prominent member of this camp, M.P. Renukacharya, ridiculed the meeting by saying that those who had been “rejected” as leaders had participated in the meeting.

He also declared that their group would organise a massive convention of Lingayats soon to strengthen the hands of Mr. Vijayendra and his father, B.S. Yediyurappa. They would also hold a meeting of Lingayat seers as a precursor to the proposed convention, he said.

Meanwhile, the continuing infighting in the Opposition BJP, especially ahead of the legislature session, has caused concern in the party. Speaking to The Hindu, a prominent State leader observed that it could affect the party’s morale during the session in which party leaders want to put the government on the mat over several issues, especially the leadership tussle in the Congress.