Karnataka BJP feud intensifies, anti-Yediyurappa camp floats a new name for state unit chief

“The precocious bid volition springiness bully news,” erstwhile Union Minister G M Siddeswara, flanked by Yatnal and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, said successful Delhi connected Wednesday. Asked what the “good news” was, Siddeswara replied without clarifying: “You tin recognize what it volition be.”

The remarks travel aft the Yatnal faction — seen to beryllium adjacent to BJP nationalist wide caput (organisation) B L Santhosh — is learnt to person suggested that Sriramulu regenerate Vijayendra. The erstwhile curate fell retired with Vijayendra aft a halfway committee gathering successful January.

Confirming the February 12 gathering of the Vijayendra faction, erstwhile authorities curate M P Renukacharya said the radical volition spell to Delhi to dependable its concerns with the precocious command. “If Vijayendra is made to measurement down, the BJP won’t get adjacent 10 seats (in Karnataka). National leaders cognize the situation; they won’t region Vijayendra, and helium volition proceed arsenic the president,” Renukacharya said.

Sources successful the BJP, too, said elections for the authorities chief’s station were apt to beryllium held soon. “Efforts are connected successful some camps to consolidate enactment for candidates selected by the precocious command,” said a authorities BJP insider.

Adding substance to the occurrence were Sriramulu’s comments. “I americium acceptable to fulfil the relation (of authorities BJP chief) if the enactment gives maine a chance. I volition enactment an extremity to factionalism successful the authorities portion and guarantee that we triumph 150 seats successful the 2028 Assembly polls,” helium told reporters successful Kolar connected Wednesday.

Sriramulu, seen to beryllium a adjacent adjutant of mining baron and BJP person Gali Janardhan Reddy, has had a rocky narration with the BJP. In his aboriginal days successful politics, helium served arsenic an adjutant to the precocious Sushma Swaraj successful the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, erstwhile she successfully contested from Bellary. He archetypal became an MLA successful 2008 and was made minister. He discontinue the Cabinet arsenic good arsenic the BJP 3 years aboriginal portion accusing his mentor Reddy of acquiring amerciable wealth.

In 2011, Sriramulu floated the BSR Congress, which drew a blank successful the 2013 Assembly polls but is said to person damaged the BJP’s prospects successful astatine slightest 40 seats, particularly successful the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. In 2013, helium merged his enactment with the BJP and successfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bellary. He won the 2018 Assembly polls from Molakalmuru but mislaid the Badami spot to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Five years later, helium mislaid the Bellary Assembly spot by much than 29,000 votes.

Since the BJP mislaid powerfulness and Vijayendra came to inhabit the apical station successful the authorities unit, Yatnal has continued his tirade against Vijayendra. “Vijayendra whitethorn person wealth but does not person bully qualities. He is characterless, corrupt and a load to the party,” helium said successful Delhi.