BJP leaders oppose BSY son’s name for Council election

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The move to make B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former CM B.S.Yediyurappa, a candiate for the biennial election to the Legislative Council from the Legislative Assembly constituency has not gone down well with a section of leaders who feel there are other loyal workers eligible for the seat.

On Saturday, the BJP Core Committee had sent the names of 20 leaders including former minister, Laxman Savadi, Lingaraj Patil, Shankranna Munavalli and Vijayendra for the seats. With its current strength, the BJP can send four candidates to the Council from the Assembly constituency.

Some leaders feel sending Vijayendra’s name to the high command for approval is wrong, since his father has been a former CM and his brother is a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga. Besides, Vijayendra was made vice-president of the state BJP only a few months ago, they contend.

These leaders feel Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai might have prevailed upon Core Committee members to include Vijayendra’s name to place his ‘guru’ Yediyurappa. A day before the core committee met, the CM drove to Yediyurappa’s house and spoke to him for about 30 minutes. Bommai reportedly feels it is necessary to keep the veteran leader in good humour since his services would be required during the crucial 2023 Assembly polls thanks to the sway he enjoys over the Veerashaiva/Lingayat vote base. When Yediyurappa was CM, several ministers including then RDPR Minister K.S.Eshwarappa, had complained to the high command about the alleged meddling of Vijayendra in the functioning of government departments.

The MLA from Vijayapura City, Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Mysuru BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath had alleged that Vijayendra was striking deals for various departments for a commission. Yatnal had even brought this to the notice of BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh during his visits to the State. But the high command ignored it as it requires the help of Yediyurappa during the coming Assembly election. A senior BJP leader told News Trail that if the high command clears Vijayendra’s name, it would open a Pandora’s box as there would be criticism of the leadership for flouting party principles for the sake of one person.