Lingayat leaders in BJP sidelined by BL Santhosh; Vishwanath

NT Correspondent | NT

Bengaluru: Rebel BJP MLC H Vishwanath on Tuesday claimed that BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh has sidelined Lingayat leaders in the party including former CM BS Yediyurappa and ex-minister V Somanna.

“He crushed BSY and Somanna. The Veerashaiva – Lingayat community kept their trust in the BJP and backed them but they were cheated. No other party gave representation and respect to them other than the Congress”, he said.

He also questioned why Santhosh failed to ensure the party’s victory and dared the BJP leader to release proof for his claim that the BJP is in touch with 40-45 Congress MLAs.

Vishwanath was one among the MLAs who helped the BJP form the government in 2019 and later backed to Congress during the 2023 assembly election.