According to sources on the karnataka BJP’s dartboard, one person who seems to be the target for several disgruntled leaders is veteran BS Yeddyurappa. While a trade of accusations has been launched by Vijayapura bjp mla and former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, other senior leaders like Sadanand Gowda, KS Eswarappa, and CT ravi have also earlier trained their guns on the leader. In his latest statement on Thursday, Yatnal alleged that “it is as if the bjp has been handed over to the Yeddyurappa family on a platter”, putting the top leadership in a spot again. The comment comes just 24 hours after Yatnal made serious corruption allegations to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore against Yeddyurappa while managing the Covid-19 pandemic in Karnataka.
When speaking in Vijaypura on december 27, Yatnal claimed: “Do you know how many thousands of crores of rupees were looted due to irregularities during Covid-19? They have done everything possible (corruption)… did you know what rate Yeddyurappa charged for a mask that costs Rs 45 each during Covid-19? The government priced it at Rs 485 for each mask… Let them serve me a notice, I will expose each of them.” Yatnal was also an aspirant for the state president’s post which was wrested away by BSY’s younger son, BY Vijayendra.
Moreover one may recall that Gowda, a former karnataka chief minister, had stepped in to fill BSY’s shoes in 2011, when the former was arrested and sent to jail in an illegal mining case. Gowda, upset with the way the party leadership had been treating him, announced his retirement from active politics in november 2023. He has also been critical of Shikaripura mla Vijayendra being made the state president of the bjp and called the new unit under him “not strong”. BJP’s central leadership has been relying on Yeddyurappa’s comeback and active role in state politics for the party’s performance in the upcoming lok sabha polls. His ability to secure key posts for his son and loyalists has certainly irked many, but after the May assembly poll debacle, the party high command has decided to let the political play continue with the hope of wresting all 28 lok sabha seats in karnataka in their favour.
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