Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 27: Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has launched a fresh attack on his former party, stating that internal conflicts and "adjustment politics" will push the BJP to an unprecedented low in Karnataka.
Yatnal, who was expelled for six years following his rebellion against state BJP president B Y Vijayendra and his father, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, accused the party leadership of selectively punishing dissenters while ignoring those responsible for its downfall in key strongholds.
"Those indulging in adjustment politics, which weakened the party in Karnataka and led to its defeat in strongholds like Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Ballari, and Chikkodi, have faced no action. Meanwhile, those who demanded reforms and opposed one-man rule and family-centric politics have been suspended or served notices. If this continues, the party will sink further in Karnataka," Yatnal said.
He alleged that two legislators who openly rebelled against the party and supported the Congress were either ignored or issued notices only after pressure from party workers.
BJP's decline in North Karnataka
Yatnal criticized the BJP high command for failing to analyze its setbacks in Kalyana Karnataka, a region where the party had built its presence from the ground up over the last three decades.
"The high command has no understanding of why we lost in North Karnataka, despite its strong voter base, particularly among Panchamasali Lingayats. It also failed to address the ‘adjustment politics’ that led to BJP’s loss in the Shiggaon bypoll, a seat previously held by former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai," he claimed.
He further blamed the party’s inability to aggressively counter Congress policies for its electoral defeats, particularly in constituencies like Davangere Lok Sabha, where BJP had been strengthening its presence since the 1990s.
Forgetting party’s veterans
Yatnal accused the BJP leadership of disregarding the contributions of veteran leaders like the late G Mallikarjunappa, former MP G M Siddeshwar’s father, who played a crucial role in building the party in Karnataka.
"It was the selfless service of leaders like Mallikarjunappa, late B B Shivappa, K S Eshwarappa, and late V S Acharya that strengthened the party. But today, some leaders who falsely claim to be the torchbearers of BJP’s legacy are only accelerating its decline," he said.
Waqf protests & legal battles
Highlighting his own contributions, Yatnal said he had taken on the Congress government by spearheading protests against Waqf board land allocations and ensured justice for farmers.
"I submitted key documents to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which were appreciated by its chairman Jagadambika Pal. I personally funded legal battles against the Karnataka government’s withdrawal of CBI consent in the disproportionate assets case against deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar," he stated.
He also claimed to have filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court regarding alleged misappropriation in the Valmiki Development Board and actively raised concerns over discrimination in fund allocation for North Karnataka.
Yatnal reiterated that he had been a vocal critic of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), exposing its failures both in the assembly and in public forums.
His remarks come at a time when BJP is grappling with internal differences, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.