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B Y Vijayendra.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: BJP national general secretary Dr Radha Mohan Das Agrawal on Saturday ruled out replacing B Y Vijayendra as the saffron party's Karnataka president, trashing this demand made by a rebel faction.
BJP leaders such as Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Ramesh Jarkiholi have publicly sought Vijayendra's ouster.
"Deciding or changing the party's leadership lies with grassroots workers or the national leadership. No individual can change the party's leadership. Leaders aren’t changed on the basis of demands,” Agrawal, who is in charge of the BJP’s affairs in Karnataka, said.
“The party decides what's best based on the organisational needs. Today, the party feels it is best to have Vijayendra and that’s why he’s the party president," Agrawal said after attending the state BJP's core committee's meeting.
Agrawal also played down factional fight within the Karnataka unit of the BJP.
"There's nothing like 'Yatnal vs Vijayendra' or 'Yatnal vs BJP' in Karnataka. Neither am I viewing this seriously nor is the BJP worried," Agrawal said.
Agrawal pointed out that Yatnal has been given a show-cause notice. "His response is awaited. After he responds, the party will decide on whether there should be further inquiry. We're also talking about not having any further inquiry," he said.
When asked why some party leaders are not falling in line, Agrawal said: "There are 71 lakh BJP workers in Karnataka. It's not necessary that all of them should experience the party's ideology in the same way. Time will decide who's right and wrong."
Vijayendra said "indiscipline" being demonstrated by some party leaders was discussed in the core committee meeting. "It was decided to urge the national leadership to take a serious view on this. This (indiscipline) has already disappointed party workers and isn’t good from the perspective of the party’s growth," he said.
Action against two MLAs
The BJP core committee "unanimously" resolved to seek action against Yellapur MLA Shivaram Hebbar and Yeshwanthpur MLA ST Somashekhar for "anti-party" activities, Vijayendra said.
"They became MLAs under the BJP's symbol. But they're indulging in anti-party activities and have openly identified themselves with Congress," Vijayendra said. Some core committee members sought the suspension of both MLAs while others wanted them disqualified.
Since Hebbar and Somashekhar are sitting MLAs, only the BJP's central leadership is authorised to initiate disciplinary action.
In another decision, the BJP will constitute a fact-finding team under former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda and former minister N Mahesh to understand why the party lost the Sandur and Shiggaon bypolls.