<p>Bengaluru/Vijayapura: Amid escalating factionalism in the Karnataka BJP where each group has been publicly slamming the other, party's state general secretary and Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar has asked the leadership to relieve him from organisational responsibilities. </p>.<p>According to sources close to the Karkala MLA, he has asked the party to relieve him from his duties on the grounds of "family problems".</p>.<p>However, Kumar's decision has led to speculation that he acted so due to differences with party state president B Y Vijayendra. </p>.<p>Kumar, a prominent OBC face in the saffron party, served as the energy minister in the Basavaraj Bommai Cabinet and has an RSS background.</p>.Election for Karnataka BJP chief post soon, says Chouhan.<p>After Vijayendra's elevation as the state president in November 2023, Kumar, former MLAs Preetham Gowda, P Rajeev and others were appointed as state general secretaries.</p>.<p><strong>'Sycophants spoiling BYV'</strong></p>.<p>Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader and Vijayendra’s vocal critic Basanagouda Patil Yatnal used the development to launch a fresh assault on the former.</p>.<p>"There's news that Sunil Kumar has resigned as the state general secretary. Why is it so?? There's a gang of sycophants that is spoiling Vijayendra. Understanding this, let him (Vijayendra) also resign the way Sunil Kumar has resigned." </p>.<p>Stepping up his attack on Vijayendra, Yatnal said no "obedient" BJP worker across the state will accept him.</p>.<p>"We cannot accept him. Since he (Vijayendra) signed instead of his father (Yediyurappa), the father went to jail. We cannot accept him, the high command should take this seriously.” </p>.<p><strong>BYV camp hits back</strong></p>.<p>Even as Vijayendra did not publicly respond to Yatnal’s demand seeking his resignation, former minister M P Renukacharya lashed out at Yatnal.</p>.<p>"Yatnal has used the Panchamasali Lingayat card, Hindutva and the fact that he hails from North Karnataka for personal gains. All these three masks have now been revealed. I challenge him to reveal the names of central leaders who he claims are supporting him."</p>
<p>Bengaluru/Vijayapura: Amid escalating factionalism in the Karnataka BJP where each group has been publicly slamming the other, party's state general secretary and Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar has asked the leadership to relieve him from organisational responsibilities. </p>.<p>According to sources close to the Karkala MLA, he has asked the party to relieve him from his duties on the grounds of "family problems".</p>.<p>However, Kumar's decision has led to speculation that he acted so due to differences with party state president B Y Vijayendra. </p>.<p>Kumar, a prominent OBC face in the saffron party, served as the energy minister in the Basavaraj Bommai Cabinet and has an RSS background.</p>.Election for Karnataka BJP chief post soon, says Chouhan.<p>After Vijayendra's elevation as the state president in November 2023, Kumar, former MLAs Preetham Gowda, P Rajeev and others were appointed as state general secretaries.</p>.<p><strong>'Sycophants spoiling BYV'</strong></p>.<p>Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader and Vijayendra’s vocal critic Basanagouda Patil Yatnal used the development to launch a fresh assault on the former.</p>.<p>"There's news that Sunil Kumar has resigned as the state general secretary. Why is it so?? There's a gang of sycophants that is spoiling Vijayendra. Understanding this, let him (Vijayendra) also resign the way Sunil Kumar has resigned." </p>.<p>Stepping up his attack on Vijayendra, Yatnal said no "obedient" BJP worker across the state will accept him.</p>.<p>"We cannot accept him. Since he (Vijayendra) signed instead of his father (Yediyurappa), the father went to jail. We cannot accept him, the high command should take this seriously.” </p>.<p><strong>BYV camp hits back</strong></p>.<p>Even as Vijayendra did not publicly respond to Yatnal’s demand seeking his resignation, former minister M P Renukacharya lashed out at Yatnal.</p>.<p>"Yatnal has used the Panchamasali Lingayat card, Hindutva and the fact that he hails from North Karnataka for personal gains. All these three masks have now been revealed. I challenge him to reveal the names of central leaders who he claims are supporting him."</p>
