Relief for BSY as Yatnal calls truce after high command intervention

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal (in pic) has called a truce with former CM and veteran BJP BS Yediyurappa following intervention of the high command. Till recently, Yatnal was firing salvos against Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra, holding them responsible for the reported rampant corruption in the government.

He had accused Vijayendra of interfering in the government affairs as well as acting as an agent on behalf of his father to show favour. Both directly and indirectly, Yatnal spared no chance to slam the Yediyurappa government and increase in the corruption.

In a way, Yatnal has become an ‘opposition’ member within the ruling party, attacking the BJP every now and then without bothering about its impact on the government. Yatnal didn't stop his diatribe against Yediyurappa even after he stepped down from the CM's post and demanded a CBI probe to expose the alleged misdeeds of the party stalwart.

Since the day Yediyurappa became the CM, Yatnal was nursing vengeance for not inducting him in the Council of Ministers. His attack of the veteran leader only increased with time, thus embarrassing the saffron party both inside the State Assembly and outside of it.

Even BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka Affairs Incharge Arun Singh failed to mend Yatnal and was forced to eat humble pie after asking, "Who is Yatnal?” The entire Panchamasali community, which backs Yatnal, made Singh withdraw the statement, making him feel sorry for taking on the Vijayapura MLA.

After “tolerating” him all these months, the high command has now issued the gag orders asking him not to utter a word against Yediyurappa who has been associated with the BJP for more than four decades.

It is learnt that BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah strictly told the former Union Minister of State for Railways to just shut up and stop attacking Yediyurappa directly or indirectly, failing which the party would be forced to take disciplinary action.

Besides, they are said to have explained to him how his statements were damaging the party image and the way it is being used by the Congress leaders to say all is not well in the ruling party. So, Yatnal has decided not to make any comments on any leader at least till the Assembly elections.