Bengaluru: Amid the open outpouring of dissent, factionalism in Karnataka’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a new turn with senior leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accusing his party state head of fraud and forgery, giving the Congress government more ammunition to corner the opposition.
Yatnal accused former chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa’s son and Karnataka BJP president B.Y.Vijayendra of forging his father’s signature in the two terms in power.
“He (Vijayendra) forged his father’s signature. Investigate it. If you (Congress), Siddaramaiah and D.K.Shivakumar have the courage…when Yediyurappa was the CM, how many signatures did he sign, of which how many are authentic and how many were forged. Send it to the forensic lab,” the Yediyurappa baiter said Sunday.
This is not the first time that he has levelled serious allegations against the Yediyurappa family. In December 2023, Yatnal alleged that Yediyurappa was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore scam during the Covid pandemic.
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The central brass’ inaction against Yatnal has emboldened the rebel faction that also includes Ramesh Jarkiholi, Arvind Limbavali, Pratap Simha among others, to take frequent potshots against the Yediyurappa family, further adding to the growing divide within the principal opposition party in Karnataka.
Latching on to Yatnal’s statement, rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge said that the Congress government was willing to probe the allegations levelled by the Bijapur City MLA.
More precisely, the latest round of accusations has given the faction-hit ruling Congress party a breather from its own internal troubles.
In a long post on ‘X’, Kharge said that the allegations are criminal in nature. “They have alleged that the BJP state president had forged signatures when Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister. Forging the signature of the head of the administration is a very serious crime, and the BJP must answer to the people about this…,” he said.
He added that the other allegations that Vijayendra was a ‘collection master’ (seeking bribes) would also be probed. In 2011, Yediyurappa was jailed for nearly one month over widespread allegations of corruption. The veteran leader continues to face several charges, including one of sexually assaulting a minor.
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‘Won’t break my head’
On Tuesday, the BJP is holding at least three meetings, including a core-committee meeting to discuss the polls for the post of state president, that will be attended by national general secretaries, Radha Mohan Agarwal, Pon Radhakrishna and Sudhakar Reddy in Bengaluru.
Vijayendra is confident of securing a second term as president even though the infighting has become unmanageable after he took over in November last year.
“I won’t break my head over those targeting me. Whether it is Yatnal or anyone else. I have come to work and will continue to do the same. Will not comment on those who do not have any other work,” Vijayendra told reporters Monday.
The BJP central leaders are likely to try and speak to the two main camps to resolve, or at least set aside differences for the time being, and conduct the elections.
Vijayendra is hopeful to secure another term as Yediyurappa is already mobilising support, people aware of the developments say.
However, Yatnal and his team of rebels have announced to field their own candidate. “Me and my team are ready for elections. We will field candidates. We have a core committee, we will decide,” the BJP MLA said Monday.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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