Yediyurappa indicates bigger role for son in BJP unit after denied ticket for MLC poll


PTI | Chennai | Updated: 25-05-2022 19:07 IST | Created: 25-05-2022 18:08 IST
Yediyurappa indicates bigger role for son in BJP unit after denied ticket for MLC poll
Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa. [File Photo/ANI] Image Credit: ANI
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Karnataka BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday indicated the possibility of a bigger role for his son and the State vice-president B Y Vijayendra in the party, a day after he was denied a ticket to contest the MLC polls.

Meanwhile, accusing Congress of politicizing the issue, Vijayendra in Mysuru said Yediyurappa has never expressed a desire to make him MLC or a Minister, and the party leadership would decide on how to utilize him.

''I'm not bothered much as the State and national leadership will take a call on what responsibility should be given to me,'' Vijayendra said, brushing aside talks in some quarters that Yediyurappa is being sidelined in the party.

He said: ''Yediyurappa and BJP are one, there is no BJP without Yediyurappa and no Yediyurappa without BJP, as he has built the party for 30-40 years and has taken care of it like a family.'' Ignoring the recommendation of the State unit to field Vijayendra for the June 3 biennial elections to seven seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council, the party central leadership on Tuesday announced the names of four candidates, hours before the deadline for filing of nominations ended.

The move is being seen in some political quarters as a setback to former Chief Minister Yediyurappa.

''There is no need to attach special meaning to Vijayendra being denied a Legislative Council ticket. I'm confident that naturally, Vijayendra will get a big opportunity in the future. Party will never let down those with capability and loyalty,'' Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the aim is to bring the party back to power in Karnataka in the 2023 Assembly polls, and all efforts in this regard would begin from ''now itself.'' ''I'm confident that the BJP will get a clear majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the next elections, and come back to power,'' he added.

Asked whether Vijayendra lost out on getting the ticket because of BJP national General Secretary B L Santosh, who is considered to be Yediyurappa's bete-noire, the veteran leader said, ''It has nothing to do with him, unnecessarily such things are being said in the media, and there is no meaning to them.'' He said Vijayendra may get different opportunities, pointing out that he is now the State vice-president.

''He may be given a bigger opportunity, it is left to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party president J P Nadda. I'm confident that soon there may be certain changes and (he) may be given more responsibilities,'' Yediyurappa said.

Asked if Vijayendra would be given a ticket for the next Assembly polls, Yediyurappa said, ''Why discuss it now itself, let's see when that situation comes.'' The candidates announced by the BJP central leadership are Former deputy Chief Minister and party vice-president Laxman Savadi, party's State secretaries Hemalatha Nayak and S Keshavaprasad, and president of SC Morcha Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.

The State BJP core committee had earlier recommended Vijayendra’s name to the central leadership, as one of the probable candidates.

Vijayendra also did not want to respond to speculations alleging Santosh's role in him not getting a ticket, and said, ''It is wrong to bring in names of senior leaders like Santosh Ji, unnecessarily...'' With the party deciding against fielding him as a candidate, Vijayendra on Tuesday issued an appeal and said power and position itself are not the ultimate objectives in politics.

Asking his supporters and well-wishers to abide by the party's decision, he had also appealed against making any unnecessary comments on social media and elsewhere, following this decision, stating that it will not only damage the reputation of the party but also hurt the sentiments of Yediyurappa and himself.

According to party sources, the leadership decided against giving a ticket to Vijayendra, as it wants to field him as a candidate during the 2023 Assembly elections, and is likely to give him a greater role in the party like- State general secretary- ahead of the polls, as a placatory move.

Earlier, too, there were reports that Vijayendra might be fielded to contest the 2023 Assembly polls from one of the seats in the old Mysuru (south Karnataka) region, where the party is considered to be weak. He, too, had recently stated that he is interested in working in the region if the party decides.

There were some reports that Yediyurappa had desired to make his son an MLC and then insist on making him Minister in the Basavaraj Bommai Cabinet.

There have been such demands from his supporters ever since Yediyurappa stepped down as Chief Minister in July last year.

The central leadership is also said to have decided against Vijayendra's candidature, as it would weaken the BJP’s stand against dynasty politics, ahead of 2023 Assembly polls, as Yediyurappa is currently an MLA from Shikaripura, while his elder son B Y Raghavendra is Shivamogga MP.

Vijayendra was appointed as the party vice-president in July 2020. Before that, he was appointed as BJP youth wing general secretary, soon after he was denied a party ticket to contest from the Varuna constituency in Mysuru, ahead of the May 2018 Assembly polls.

His stakes increased in the party as he was credited by many to have played a key role in BJP's first-ever victory in K R Pet and Sira Assembly segments during the by-polls held in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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