War of words between Vijayendra and Yatnal faction escalates, even as Chauhan talks of election

Dissent within Karnataka BJP escalates as leaders criticize incumbent party chief Vijayendra, calling for transparent elections.

Even as Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday announced in Bengaluru that election to the State BJP president’s post would be held soon, dissenting party leaders Ramesh Jarkiholi and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal stepped up their attack on incumbent party chief B.Y. Vijayendra in north Karnataka on the same day.

Speaking at an event at Ankalagi in Gokak in Belagavi district, Mr. Jarkiholi said, “I want to tell Mr. Vijayendra that he is just a baccha (child) yet. He is unfit to be the party president. He need not try to discipline me.”

He was responding to Mr. Vijayendra asking him earlier to “watch his words” while talking about his father and BJP veteran B.S. Yediyurappa and not utter things that are disrespectful. He had also said that Mr. Jarkiholi was a “recent entrant to the party”.

Continuing his tirade, Mr. Jarkiholi said, “I want to ask Mr. Vijayendra to quit and make way for someone else. We will not accept him as president... I have regard for Mr. Yediyurappa. He remains our leader, but not his son Mr. Vijayendra who is undeserving of his position.”

In the same breath, he also said, “Mr. Yediyurappa keeps saying he has conducted cycle rallies to bring the BJP to power in the past. But then, you have amassed wealth that is several times more than your contribution to the party. Stop seeking credit for building the party.” He urged Mr. Yediyurappa not to support his son, which would only lead to his downfall. However, he said he would accept the party high command’s decision.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yatnal, speaking in Vijayapura, called Mr. Vijayendra a “collection master”, who had made money during his father’s chief ministership. He supported the idea of electing the new State unit president.

Mr. Yatnal said the party high command was aware of all the “misdeeds” of Mr. Vijayendra and that was why it was planning an election for the party president’s post. To a query, he said he was not planning to contest the election. “But someone from our faction will contest... I want to request the party high command to ensure that Mr. Vijayendra does not interfere with the election process. Transparent elections should be conducted at every level — taluk, district, and State.”