After 4 show cause notices and demands by leaders to take action, his influence within his community saves Yatnal from the wrath of BJP.
Published Aug 09, 2024 | 6:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 09, 2024 | 6:00 PM
FIR filed against BJP MLA Yatnal over allegations of political conspiracy
Karnataka BJP leader and Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has been evading the axe of the party’s high command since 2019 even after making numerous controversial remarks negatively affecting the party.
BJP, a party that prides itself on ‘discipline’ and is quick to suspend/expel leaders for transgressions, is forced to grin and bear when it comes to Yatnal.
Even though several leaders of the party have been demanding action against the rebel legislator who was once ousted from the party, his influence within his community is saving him from the wrath of the people in Delhi.
Yatnal’s controversial remarks have become a familiar pattern but the party is limiting its response to show-cause notices rarely followed by tangible consequences due to his influence and other reasons known only to the party insiders.
The party’s failure to take decisive action has created a perception of impunity, allowing him to continue making headlines for all the wrong reasons, embarrassing the state party unit.
As the notices pile up, the high command’s inability to rein in its errant MLA has raised questions about its commitment to discipline and accountability within the party ranks.
This development comes on the backdrop of the former Union minister criticising the BJP’s Mysuru Chalo padayatra against the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, spearheaded by the state unit president and MLA BY Vijayendra.
He termed this padayatra a “conspiracy” between Vijayendra and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to oust Siddaramaiah as the chief minister of Karnataka. However, his remarks were strongly condemned by his party men during the ongoing padayatra.
However, the BJP’s Karnataka unit leaders expect the party high command to take stringent disciplinary action against Yatnal. They pointed out that the high command was waiting for the completion of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to take action against the rebelling MLA.
Yatnal continued his tirade against the family of BJP veteran and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa by adding a fresh round of accusations against the latter’s son Vijayendra.
He alleged a clandestine pact between Vijayendra and Shivakumar to orchestrate the padayatra.
Furthermore, Yatnal implicated the BJP state president in a controversy surrounding the distribution of pen drives in Hassan consisting of explicit videos of former parliamentarian and sexual assault cases accused Prajwal Revanna.
The allegations have left the party leadership grappling with the fallout of his unbridled attacks.
Soon after the saffron party launched the Mysuru Chalo padayatra, Yatnal launched a scathing attack on Yediyurappa and Vijayendra, accusing them of widespread corruption.
The Bijapur City legislator also dared the BJP high command to take action against the duo, upping the ante in his ongoing stand-off against the Yediyurappa family.
Recently, Yantnal had told reporters in Vijayapura that the pen drives were distributed in Hassan following the directions of Vijayendra
“If he has the courage, let him reply to me,” Yatnal said.
“Most of the new office bearers in the party belong to the CD gang. These CDs are being used to blackmail party (BJP) legislators,” the senior MLA said levelling serious allegations against Vijayendra.
“I suspect that Vijayendra and Shivakumar have conspired to dethrone Siddaramaiah from the chief minister post by organising the padayatra. This has been launched under the direction of Shivakumar. This clearly shows that it is nothing but an adjustment in politics,” Yatnal said.
He also sought answers from both leaders.
“Yediyurappa and his son have been involved in widespread corruption. The former chief minister should distance from the party affairs as he is facing severe charges, which are currently in court,” Yatnal said.
Yediyurappa is facing a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
“The high command must direct him not to turn up for any party affairs as he has no moral right. It is surprising that he is demanding the resignation of Siddaramaiah. He and his son have indulged in several scams,” the former union minister said demanding BJP’s central leadership to act against the father-son duo.
However, Yatnal’s remarks targeting Yediyurappa and Vijayendra attracted strong criticism from the party MLAs, who pleaded with the senior MLA not to make any statements on public stages, embarrassing the party and its leadership.
After the BJP reinducted Yatnal to the party in 2018, after banning him for six years in 2015 for allegedly working against the interests of the party, the high command issued at least four show-cause notices.
The notices were issued over his alleged anti-party activities, especially for tarnishing the image of former Yediyurappa, his family and other senior leaders.
Ever since Yediyurappa denied Yatnal a place in his Cabinet in 2019, the latter is not only sulking but also launching scathing attacks on the former chief minister and his family, levelling serious allegations such as corruption and misuse of power.
First Notice
A year after his re-entry into the party and election as the MLA for Bijapur City, Yatnal received his first show-cause notice on October 4, 2019.
This disciplinary action was subsequent to his public criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government regarding the delayed disbursement of flood relief grants.
Second Notice
Approximately 16 months after receiving his first show-cause notice, Yatnal was issued a second one by the party leadership in February 2021.
This notice was served in response to his alleged attempts to tarnish the party’s image by making public statements regarding the uncertainty surrounding Yediyurappa’s continuation as the chief minister of Karnataka.
Third Notice
A year later, in May 2022, Yatnal was reportedly served yet another show cause notice for tarnishing the party image.
BJP’s disciplinary committee had slapped him with notice for stating that a party leader has to pay ₹2,500 to be named as the chief minister of Karnataka.
This created a huge uproar in state politics as it turned out to be one of the weapons for the then-opposition Congress.
Fourth Notice
Ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, BJP high command issued Yatnal a show-cause notice over allegedly making derogatory remarks against the chief minister and other ministers in January 2023.
While addressing one of the public rallies on the Panchamasali reservation, Yatnal had referred to one of the then Cabinet ministers as a “pimp”, which drew severe criticism.
Following this notice, BJP warned Yatnal on 27 January, 2023 not to speak against Yediyurappa. After meeting the high command, Yatnal stated that he would not make any public statements against the former chief minister.
Amidst this, the current office bearers of the Karnataka BJP — in their first meeting after being appointed — urged the high command in December 2023 to take action against Yatnal over alleging that the Yediyurappa government indulged in ₹40,000 crore corrupting during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although Yatnal’s provocative statements and actions have sparked numerous controversies, the BJP high command chose to merely issue show-cause notices, eschewing more severe disciplinary measures.
This apparent leniency belies a calculated strategy to avoid antagonising the politically significant Lingayat-Panchamasali community, whose support is crucial for the party’s electoral prospects, claimed senior leaders from the BJP.
On anonymity, a senior MLC told South First: “It is not that the party leadership is not aware of Yatnal’s remarks targeting the party’s parliamentary board member and state president. They are waiting for the appropriate time to take disciplinary action against him.”
“The state leadership has complained against Yatnal before the party high command even before the parliament elections. The party assured action against the rebel MLA only after the culmination of the Lok Sabha polls.”
“As the parliament elections are concluded, the party high command is expected to initiate disciplinary action against him soon. It is important to note that he was freed with a mere warning in 2023. He was quiet for a period of time but has resumed his old habit of targeting Yediyurappa and his family,” the MLC added.
When asked why no action was followed after the show cause notices, he pointed out: “The main reason behind not taking action against him is that he comes from one of the influential communities (Panchamasali) in North Karnataka. This community has been a strong supporter of the party for over two decades now.”
“The party believes that action against Yatnal would divide Panchamasali votes to a certain extent, damaging the party’s prospects. There are also other factors that are in favour of Yatnal, which cannot be discussed publicly. Hence, the party has not yet shown keenness on acting against Yatnal,” added the senior MLC.
It is also important to note that Yatnal was expelled twice from the BJP but only to be re-inducted again into the party in 2018.
On anonymity, one of the close associates of Vijayendra told South First: “The state leadership raised the issues of Yatnal before the high command in January 2023. Everyone is aware that these remarks or criticisms are not new to Yatnal. It has a long history.”
“The state leadership has learnt that ignorance is the best medicine for the derogatory remarks of Yatnal. He is one of the senior leaders in the party. The high command is most likely to give him time to rectify himself instead of expelling or taking stringent action against him,” added the BJP leader.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
