With the BJP organisational polls on the horizon in Karnataka, the internal tussle in state the unit between the factions led by MLA Basangouda Yatnal Patil and state BJP president B Y Vijayendra appears to be intensifying. While the Yatnal faction has been camping in Delhi for the past two days to meet the party’s top leadership and seek a leadership change in the state, the Vijayendra camp is scheduled to meet in Bengaluru on February 12 to discuss possible elections for the BJP state chief’s post. The Yatnal camp has claimed that “good news” is on its way and adding to the intrigue is the emergence of former state minister B Sriramulu as a contender to succeed Vijayendra, who is the son of former CM BS Yediyurappa. “The high command will give good news,” former Union Minister G M Siddeswara, flanked by Yatnal and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, said in Delhi on Wednesday. Asked what the “good news” was, Siddeswara replied without clarifying: “You can understand what it will be.” The remarks come after the Yatnal faction — seen to be close to BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh — is learnt to have suggested that Sriramulu replace Vijayendra. The former minister fell out with Vijayendra after a core committee meeting in January. Confirming the February 12 meeting of the Vijayendra faction, former state minister M P Renukacharya said the group will go to Delhi to voice its concerns with the high command. “If Vijayendra is made to step down, the BJP won't get even ten seats (in Karnataka). National leaders know the situation; they won't remove Vijayendra, and he will continue as the president,” Renukacharya said. Sources in the BJP, too, said elections for the state chief’s post were likely to be held soon. “Efforts are on in both camps to consolidate support for candidates selected by the high command,” said a state BJP insider. Adding fuel to the fire were Sriramulu’s comments. “I am ready to fulfil the role (of state BJP chief) if the party gives me a chance. I will put an end to factionalism in the state unit and ensure that we win 150 seats in the 2028 Assembly polls,” he told reporters in Kolar on Wednesday. Sriramulu, seen to be a close aide of mining baron and BJP leader Gali Janardhan Reddy, has had a rocky relationship with the BJP. In his early days in politics, he served as an aide to the late Sushma Swaraj in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, when she successfully contested from Bellary. He first became an MLA in 2008 and was made minister. He quit the Cabinet as well as the BJP three years later while accusing his mentor Reddy of acquiring illegal wealth. In 2011, Sriramulu floated the BSR Congress, which drew a blank in the 2013 Assembly polls but is said to have damaged the BJP’s prospects in at least 40 seats, especially in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. In 2013, he merged his party with the BJP and successfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bellary. He won the 2018 Assembly polls from Molakalmuru but lost the Badami seat to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Five years later, he lost the Bellary Assembly seat by more than 29,000 votes. Since the BJP lost power and Vijayendra came to occupy the top post in the state unit, Yatnal has continued his tirade against Vijayendra. “Vijayendra may have money but does not have good qualities. He is characterless, corrupt and a burden to the party,” he said in Delhi.
