Backroom boy of KJP in Shimoga

 The Shimoga MP B Y Raghavendra is caught in a peculiar situation where he is not keen to remain in the BJP and at the same time can’t join the KJP headed by his father B S Yeddyurappa. However, he is actively ‘working behind the scene’ to strengthen the KJP in the district.

The BJP leaders expected that Raghavendra would resign as MP after the formation of the KJP in November last. But, he decided to back the KJP by continuing in the BJP. As his activities have irked BJP leaders, he is not invited to any event organised by the party. 

Also, neither his photograph nor his name is  seen in the banners displayed during the BJP conventions although he is the local MP from the party. Though he is the man behind organising the KJP conventions in the district, he is not ‘visible’ at the KJP events.    
 
The house of the MP in Shikaripur town has unofficially turned into the KJP office. The work pertaining to the construction of the KJP office is in progress on a site close to his residence.

Though he is accompanying his father Yeddyurappa to villages in Shikaripur taluk seeking support for the KJP in the coming Assembly elections, he is not sharing the dais with the KJP men. However, he has accelerated the KJP’s campaigning across the taluk.

On several occasions, many BJP leaders including Rajya Sabha member Ayanur Manjunath and Shimoga district BJP president R K Siddaramanna have challenged Raghavendra to resign as MP and later campaign for the KJP. But, Raghavendra’s reply to them is “you have won the elections under the leadership of Yeddyurappa. If you have morality, you resign first and emerge victorious in the coming Assembly elections without his support.”          

When he was the State BJP President, K S Eshwarappa had submitted a letter to BJP central leadership seeking disciplinary action against Raghavendra for anti-party activities. But, there has been no action from the Central leaders yet.

The MP did not campaign for the BJP during the recent civic polls, forcing the BJP to seek votes displaying posters which read ‘B Y Raghavendra is still with BJP, therefore support the BJP candidates’. However, the BJP failed to win the elections to the Shikaripur Town Municipal Council.