'Adjustment politics' will take BJP to new lows, warns Yatnal

Bengaluru: Expelled BJP lawmaker Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said “adjustment politics” would take the saffron party to a “new low” in Karnataka, and gunned for reforms in an elaborate statement Thursday.

"I believe street veto has defeated reforms in Karnataka. The infighting, undercurrents and adjustment politics will take the party to a new low in Karnataka unless reforms are undertaken," Yatnal said on X (formerly Twitter) amid a flush of support he is receiving after the BJP expelled him on Wednesday for "anti-party" activities.

Yatnal said "vested interests" had cost electoral losses to the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Those vested interests who rampantly indulged in adjustment politics weakening the party and leading to its defeat in the impregnable fortress of BJP such as Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Bellary and Chikkodi constituencies have gone scot free without any disciplinary action [sic]," Yatnal said. "... those who wanted to reform the party by wanting to end the one-upmanship and family-centered politics have been suspended or given notices."

Yatnal said the BJP top brass "has completely ignored" the party's defeats in the Kalyana Karnataka region "which we built from scratch three decades ago". He also said that the high command is "clueless" about the party's defeat in North Karnataka region "where BJP has a very strong voter base, particularly Panchamasali Lingayats". He added that "adjustment politics" resulted in the party's defeat in the Shiggaon bypoll where former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's son lost.

"The defeat of the party in Davangere...where we started building/strengthening our organization in the early 90s is a classic (example) of how adjustment politics can wreak havoc and weaken the party," Yatnal said.

"While the party's leadership is silent on the series of defeats in the Lok Sabha constituencies previously held by BJP and the bypolls, it has taken action on me for breach of discipline," Yatnal said, adding that some leaders "masquerading as carriers of the party's legacy" would cause its downfall.

Yatnal said he "singlehandedly" took on the ruling Congress through the anti-Waqf protests. He pointed out that he spent his own resources to wage a legal fight in the disproportionate assets case against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and embezzlement at Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.

"I will continue to abide and work by the principle of nation first, party next and self last in letter, spirit and practice," Yatnal said.