Karnataka BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi has accused state party chief BY Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, of being involved in corruption, further widening the rift within the party. Jarkiholi stated that the party does not accept Vijayendra’s leadership, calling him a “corrupt leader” and stressing the need for collective leadership within the BJP.
“We have never accepted his leadership and won’t accept it in the future. He is a junior and doesn’t understand the ideologies of the party,” Jarkiholi remarked. He clarified that while he respects Yediyurappa, he opposes Vijayendra’s leadership, insisting the power should not be concentrated on one person.
Jarkiholi also pointed out that since the demise of former Union Minister Ananthkumar in 2018, there has been a lack of prominent leaders in the party. He advocated for a collective leadership model with 15-20 leaders to guide the party to success, asserting that this approach could help them secure 130-140 seats in future elections.
Previously, BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had accused Yediyurappa’s regime of being involved in a Rs 40,000-crore scam during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had drawn a strong response from Vijayendra.
The internal discord signals deepening tensions within the Karnataka BJP ahead of upcoming elections.
