B Y Vijayendra questions 'neutral' leaders' silence on verbal attacks against his father

Bengaluru: It’s okay if some BJP leaders don’t defend him against constant attacks from party colleagues, but it’s unfortunate that even leaders in the ‘neutral’ camp are not condemning statements against his father and veteran leader B S Yediyurappa, said state BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Thursday.

Vijayendra told reporters here that ever since he was appointed to the post, vitriolic attacks were made against him and Yediyurappa and this had peaked now. 

“No leader in the state has made any effort to stop others from attacking Yediyurappa or at least condemn it. I don’t know why they are silent on criticism made against my father. Hasn’t he contributed to the party? I can tolerate any attack on me. But leaders who say they’re neutral must make efforts to stop those trying to tarnish Yediyurappa’s image,” Vijayendra said. 

“It is unfortunate that low level language is being used against Yediyurappa, a leader who built the party in the state.”

“I request leaders to at least now try to stop those making statements against Yediyurappa. Let those having issues with me share it with the high command,” he said.

Vijayendra said prior to taking over as the state president, he knew there would be some differences of opinion in the party unit. But he never knew that these differences ran so deep. 

“As far as I know, I have not insulted or disrespected any senior leader. I do not know how many senior leaders appreciate my work. But party workers like me and call me ‘Viji Anna’ wherever I go,” he said. 

The state BJP president claimed that the party workers had told him that they were pained to hear the 'baseless criticism' against him and Yediyurappa.

Conceding that internal strife in his party had grown bigger, Vijayendra said the election or selection to the post of state president may happen any moment. 

“There are indications that the whole process will be completed by February 20,” he said.  

He said there was no chance of any leader/s in the high command or BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh backing any state leader or aiding factions here. 

To a question as to why the high command was silent on the  developments,  Vijayendra said that in a week or 10 days, they would make their stand clear. “There will be a happy ending,” he said.

On former minister B Sriramulu’s comments, the state BJP chief sarcastically said he may not be as experienced a leader as Sriramulu, but workers across the state like him (Vijayendra) very much.