Group within Karnataka BJP expresses solidarity with Yatnal

A section of Karnataka BJP leaders is strongly supporting Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, even after he received notice for violating the party line.

BJP leaders, considered to be opposed to the B S Yediyurappa camp, have been lobbying with the party top brass not to take action against Yatnal.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Chitradurga MP Govind Karjol and Chikkaballapur MP Sudhakar met Minister of State for Railways V Somanna on Monday at Rail Bhavan and discussed informally about infighting in the BJP state unit.

These leaders are learnt to have backed Yatnal and supported him for holding anti-Waqf rally. These leaders have also planned to seek an appointment with BJP national president J P Nadda and explain their point of view about current crisis in state BJP unit.

MPs’ meeting

Last week, a section of MPs including Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Jagadish Shettar and Veeranna Kadadi met Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and discussed about factional fight in state unit. In that meeting also, several leaders backed Yatnal, sources said.

Many members of parliament also complained to Joshi that Vijayendra was not taking all leaders into confidence before taking decisions in the organization, sources said.

Jarkiholi’s support

Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, former minister and senior BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi on Monday declared that he and like-minded leaders of the saffron party would stand in solidarity with Yatnal.

Dismissing the charges about the dissident leaders indulging in “anti-party” activities, the former minister said that they were holding rallies and organising demonstrations with the blessings of the party’s central leaders.