'We stand in support of him': BJP's Yatnal finds a friend in former minister Jarikholi amid show cause notice

Raking up the Vijayendra issue again, Jarikholi said he could have been made state president after four to five years when he became senior. BJP needs a state president who could be able to take all communities along.

Belagavi: Former minister and MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi said that they were supporting MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and the latter would give reply to the showcause notice issued to him by BJP central disciplinary committee. We are not involved in anti-party activities and have been organising the party as per the blessings of national leaders.

Jarkiholi told reporters here on Monday that Yatnal did not defy BJP high command, but wrong message was sent. While Yatnal had been touring Raichur, party leaders called him and gave message that high command wants to meet him and himself rush to New Delhi immediately.

"Yatnal had informed that he has been touring and would meet the high command with entire team, but wrong message was forwarded that he defied. Cut and paste culture has been practised in the state since few years and same has happened in the case of Yatnal too," Jarikholi said.

"Showcause notice issued to Yatnal will be given suitable reply as it is a casual notice. Yatnal was yet to get copy of the notice, but we were aware of it being issued since two days," he said.

"About 70 per cent MLAs in BJP were my friends, but cannot take open stand. State President B Y Vijayendra has been threatening them to support him, but none of the MLAs from Lingayat or Vokkaliga community were threatened. Those threatened were from backward and scheduled classes. In a closed door meeting if 70% of the MLAs who were our friends if ask us to backoff, we shall decide on it", he stated.

"Former chief minister B S Yeddiyurappa was born fighter, but not Vijayendra, he cannot equate his father. Vijayendra could have been made state president after four to five years when he became senior. BJP needs a state president who could be able to take all communities along, he said.

Jarkiholi said, despite good environment in the state, BJP lost by-election for all the three assembly constituencies. Vijayendra’s statement that BJP did not take the by-election seriously was not acceptable. State president remained at home despite giving time twice for participating in the protest against Wakf Board.

Former minister M P Renukacharya has been supporting Vijayendra as he does not have any other alternative and myself shall not react to him. Myself shall also not make statements against B C Patil, he expressed.