'BY Vijayendra to be replaced after LS polls'

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson M. Lakshman, on Sunday, accused the national BJP high command leaders of devising a strategy to deceive the dominant Lingayath community voters by appointing BY Vijayendra as the state unit chief, as he will remain in his post until the Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference held here, he said BJP high command leaders will replace B.V. Vijayendra very soon after the Lok Sabha polls, as he was appointed by sidelining several seniors, including V. Somanna, B.C. Patil, Murugesh Nirani, Basavanagowda Patil Yatnal, and others from the Lingayat community.

Since BJP has already made its seniors like Jagadeesh Shettar and Lakshman Savadi quit the party, Lingayath community members must stop trusting the BJP, he said.

Dismissing the notion that Congress is not worried about the elevation of B.Y. Vijayendra as its party unit chief, he said BJP has humiliated his father, former chief B.S. Yediyurappa, by sidelining him.

As the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is waning, BJP has made this appointment to bring back the Lingayaths who have maintained distance by sidelining their community leaders in the recently held assembly polls.

According to the internal survey conducted by BJP, the party will emerge victorious with only two seats in the state. He also asked Mysore Kodagu MP Pratap Simha to spell out the reasons for the replacement of Naleen Kumar Kateel.