After BJP announces poll to pick Karnataka chief, MLA Yatnal says can’t accept Vijayendra as president

It was on Saturday that Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan—in charge of organisational polls in the state—announced the election. During a visit to the state, he said the election would be held after polls to the district units.

MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal—who repeatedly attacked Vijayendra a couple of weeks ago and was asked by the BJP leadership to avoid controversies—continued his attack on the state president on Sunday.

“We cannot accept him,” Yatnal said, holding Vijayendra responsible for sending his father, BJP Parliamentary Board member and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, to jail. “We cannot accept a person who forged the CM’s signature. Our party will not accept this. The high command should take this seriously,” he told reporters.

Yatnal is the face of a faction of BJP leaders opposed to Vijayendra. A day earlier, he said the group would field a candidate for the polls. Another BJP MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi, also hit out at the first-time MLA on Saturday. “Though Yediyurappa is still our leader, Vijayendra is a bachha (child),” he said.

Vijayendra’s appointment as BJP state president had caused heartburn for the opposing faction. Two factions—one under Yediyurappa and the other under BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh—have vied for dominance over the state unit for several years now.

Responding to the election announcement, Vijayendra said he had successfully led the state unit for a year. “I am confident that I will get another opportunity to lead the party,” he said, adding that he would seek support from senior BJP leaders for his candidature.