'High Command Will Decide': Top Karnataka BJP Leaders Seek Troublemaker MLA Yatnal's Expulsion | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 27, 2024, 06:00 IST

At a time when the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka is rallying its forces against the ruling Congress over the controversial Waqf land issue, BP Yatnal’s defiant stance has put the BJP in a difficult position. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra told News18 that...Read More

In an embarrassing move for the BJP leadership, Yatnal (above) launched his own protest over the Waqf issue under the banner of Jana Jagriti Jatha on November 25, directly competing with Vijayendra’s Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku initiative. File image/X

Will Karnataka BJP’s rabble-rouser MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal be expelled? News18 has credible information that senior leaders have recommended the Bijapur legislator’s expulsion to the state party chief for damaging the BJP’s image and strategy.

At a time when the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka is rallying its forces against the ruling Congress over the controversial Waqf land issue, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal’s defiant stance has put the BJP in a difficult position.

Protests, unauthorised statements, public spats, and internal divisions threaten to derail the BJP’s concerted efforts to present a united front in its battle against the Congress government in Karnataka.

Party workers and leaders want strict action: Vijayendra

Amid these challenges, BJP state president BY Vijayendra has adopted a stricter approach.

“Ultimately, expelling him is left to the party high command, to take an appropriate decision. In Karnataka, the anti-party activities carried out by Yatnal, all information has been brought to the notice of the party high command. They will decide," he told News18 in an exclusive conversation. “Karnataka is not the only state for our national leadership, but party workers and leaders are hoping some strict action has to be taken across the state against Yatnal for his anti-party activities, and they will take an appropriate decision."

The Karnataka BJP chief said that the cadres across the state were upset with Yatnal.

“Much before Yatnal decided to carry out his yatra pertaining to the Waqf issue, the BJP had formed a committee headed by senior leaders to travel across the state and collect information on it. Yatnal is travelling across the state making irresponsible statements against former CM Yediyurappa. It is not only damaging the party, but party workers are upset with his statements and is hurting the party’s interest as well," he told News18.

Vijayendra said that at a time when the BJP is taking the state government head-on and successfully running campaigns that expose the Congress, Yatnal is making damaging statements.

“Yatnal when he was in Shiggaon and campaigning, he was there for three days and in the three days he attacked Yediyurappa ji. Immediately after the bypoll results also the immediate reaction of Yatnal was that the BJP lost the bypolls because of the father-son duo. What does it mean? Yediyurappa is a former CM and a strong leader. Even today they respect him. Such statements repeatedly are hurting the party’s interests and I don’t deny the fact that they affected the party’s prospects in Sandur and Shiggaon," Vijayendra told News18.

For a party that prides itself on discipline and swift action against errant leaders, the BJP had not yet taken decisive action against Yatnal, whose influence within his community shielded him until now.

“We will take action as the party has no tolerance for those who do not toe the party line. The party is supreme and people will fall in line with what the party and its high command say," said a leader to News18 who had been part of the three-hour deliberations on the BJP’s bypoll results as well as the strategy for the upcoming Belagavi winter session.

Tussle within state BJP over Waqf row

The Waqf land issue has become politically charged in Karnataka. The BJP has accused the Congress government of allowing the Waqf Board to encroach on farmers’ land. Vijayendra has spearheaded the party’s response with the “Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku" (Our Land, Our Right) campaign, launching three fact-finding committees and public outreach initiatives to highlight these claims.

In an embarrassing move for the BJP leadership, Yatnal launched his own protest over the Waqf issue under the banner of Jana Jagriti Jatha on November 25, directly competing with Vijayendra’s “Namma Bhoomi, Namma Hakku" initiative.

Anti-Yediyurappa stance

The party has also been reflecting on its recent losses in three by-elections, including the key Shiggaon seat, which BJP insiders attribute to Yatnal’s anti-Yediyurappa remarks that reportedly harmed Bharat Bommai’s prospects. Congress’s Pathan Yasir Ahmed Khan secured the Shiggaon seat with a margin of 13,448 votes, defeating the BJP’s Bharat Bommai, son of former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

In the high-level meeting held in Bengaluru to discuss the BJP’s strategy for the upcoming Belagavi session, it was also suggested that Yatnal’s rebellious attitude and refusal to follow the party line should be taken to the senior leaders in Delhi for immediate action. “All the BJP district presidents are ready to meet the BJP leadership in Delhi to seek his immediate expulsion," said a party leader from the Mysuru region.

The loss in Shiggaon has served as a stark reminder that Yediyurappa’s supporters will not tolerate repeated attacks on the veteran leader. Former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa, DV Sadananda Gowda, and Basavaraj Bommai have reportedly emphasised the need to curb the anti-Yediyurappa faction, particularly Yatnal, to avoid further damage to the BJP’s image.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the Bijapur City MLA, has continued to evade action from the BJP high command since 2019, despite his history of making controversial remarks that have harmed the party’s image.

Yatnal’s faction, including prominent leaders like Ramesh Jarkiholi, Arvind Limbavali, and Kumar Bangarappa, accused the BJP leadership of sidelining them in decision-making. During a meeting at Bangarappa’s residence on November 14, the dissidents announced the formation of a control room to gather grievances from farmers affected by alleged Waqf encroachments.

While Yatnal invited Vijayendra to join his campaign, the state BJP president dismissed the parallel protest as unauthorised. Despite this, the party leadership included Yatnal and other dissidents in the official fact-finding committees in an attempt to present an inclusive front. However, this did little to deter the rebels from continuing their actions.

A senior BJP district leader from south Karnataka who also participated in the meeting in Bengaluru headed by Vijayendra said that there was a unanimous call made by all party leaders that serious action should be taken against Yatnal, who is affecting the party’s image and strategies to attack the ruling Congress.

“He is giving the Congress an issue on a platter to target us, especially when we have been trying to expose the mismanagement and double standards of the Congress. He must be expelled. No other action will be acceptable. When a senior leader like Ananth Kumar Hegde, who affected the chances of the BJP and spoke out of line, can be denied a ticket and asked to hold one’s tongue, why can’t he?" said the leader.

Yatnal has been a constant critic of Yediyurappa and his family. His opposition grew more intense after Vijayendra was appointed state BJP president. Following the announcement, Yatnal posted on social media site X: “Na Dainyam, Na Palayanam – A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges."

Yatnal continued his tirade against the family of BJP veteran and former CM BS Yediyurappa, adding fresh accusations against Vijayendra. He alleged a covert agreement between Vijayendra and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar to orchestrate the padayatra.

Additionally, Yatnal linked Vijayendra to a controversy surrounding the distribution of pen drives in Hassan containing explicit videos related to former Janata Dal (Secular) parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna, a matter that has further embarrassed the party leadership.

Yatnal claimed that the distribution of the controversial pen drives in Hassan was done under Vijayendra’s instructions, alleging that the “CD gang" within the party was using such material to blackmail BJP legislators. He also accused Vijayendra and Shivakumar of conspiring to dethrone Siddaramaiah by orchestrating the padayatra.

Soon after the BJP began the Mysuru Chalo padayatra, Yatnal launched a scathing attack on Yediyurappa and Vijayendra, accusing them of corruption. He also dared the BJP high command to take action against the two, escalating his ongoing standoff with the Yediyurappa family.

Hold over Panchamasalis

“Yatnal commands a lot of respect among the Panchamasali community in the region, and his work with the community has helped the BJP win elections. But that does not take away the fact that every party leader is a Karyakarta and cannot cross a Lakshman Rekha. Differences may be there, but that can be discussed in party meetings, not such outright violation of the code of party conduct. The BJP leadership is apprised; let’s see what the outcome will be," said a senior party functionary on condition of anonymity.

Vijayendra has a tough stand on this.

“What is his contribution to the Panchamasali community apart from one padayatra?" he questions. “If there is anybody who is reasonable for working for the Panchamasalis, it is Yediyurappa who brought the reservation to 3B, not Yatnal. His contribution has only been making damaging statements about the party since the days of Atal Bihari Vajpayee."

Yatnal also has a history of anti-Muslim remarks. During the 2023 state elections, he urged voters to avoid supporting Muslims, framing the election as a contest between Tipu Sultan and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He positioned himself as a descendant of Shivaji and portrayed Tipu as a symbol of Muslim dominance.

On November 6, Yatnal raised the stakes further by calling for a “Waqf Hatao, Desh Bachao" (Remove Waqf, Save The Nation) rally. His remarks placed him at odds with the Muslim community, with local leaders in Vijayapura threatening to release incriminating evidence against him if he continued making provocative statements.

After rejoining the BJP in 2019 and being elected MLA for Bijapur City, Yatnal has received several show-cause notices for his criticism of the Narendra Modi government over delayed flood relief, followed by others in 2021 and 2022 over remarks targeting Yediyurappa and allegations of corruption. Ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, Yatnal faced further notices for derogatory comments about ministers as well.

As the BJP prepares for the upcoming winter session in Belagavi and local body elections, its ability to project unity and focus on issues like the Waqf controversy will be critical, say party insiders.

News politics 'High Command Will Decide': Top Karnataka BJP Leaders Seek Troublemaker MLA Yatnal's Expulsion | Exclusive