The article highlights a brewing conflict within the Karnataka BJP against Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Several senior BJP leaders, including Umesh Katti, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and others, are openly expressing their discontent. This stems from the recent cabinet expansion where many senior party members were overlooked, along with concerns about Yediyurappa's alleged attempts to secure a powerful position for his son, B.Y. Vijayendra.
The February 6 cabinet expansion is cited as a major trigger for the unrest. The exclusion of several experienced party leaders fueled resentment and led to open criticism of Yediyurappa's leadership.
The rebellion is largely driven by Lingayat leaders within the state BJP. Lingayats, a significant community in Karnataka, have traditionally been strong supporters of the BJP. The internal strife is complicated by Yediyurappa's attempt to accommodate MLAs who defected from opposing parties, leading to dissatisfaction among senior party members.
Unsigned letters, circulating in both English and Kannada, have explicitly called for Yediyurappa's replacement, citing concerns about his age, health, and alleged nepotism. Some leaders have even directly complained to BJP president J.P. Nadda.
A campaign is building up against Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in the ruling BJP in Karnataka. This follows the denial of ministerial berths to several party old-timers in the February 6 cabinet expansion and the chief minister’s reported bid to secure an influential post for his son B.Y. Vijayendra in the party organisation.
For over a week now, two unsigned letters (in English and Kannada) have been circulating in BJP circles, citing Yediyurappa’s age and failing health’ and his attempts to empower his son, and demanding the appointment of a new chief minister. Yediyurappa, who turns 77 on February 27, has drawn the ire of senior BJP leaders, such as Umesh Katti, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Murugesh Nirani, M.P. Renukacharya, Siddu Savadi, Sanganna Karadi and Anand Mamani, as they were left out of the cabinet. Katti and Nirani met BJP president J.P. Nadda in the first week of February to lodge a complaint.
The rebellion’ against Yediyurappa has been launched by Lingayat leaders in the state BJP. The Lingayats, the sect to which Yediyurappa also belongs, make up about 17 per cent of Karnataka’s population and have been BJP loyalists. The infighting began when BSY, beholden to the 10 MLAs who had defected from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) last year and helped the BJP come to power in Karnataka, was forced to accommodate them in government.
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