Vijayendra said Bommai had assured him that he would travel across Karnataka to campaign for the party under his leadership for the LS polls.
Vijayendra meeting Bommai. (X)
Newly-appointed BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra called on JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The 47-year-old younger son of BJP leader Yediyurappa was appointed to the post on 10 November. He would formally take over on Wednesday, 15 November.
Vijayendra, who met former prime minister Gowda at his Padmanabha Nagar residence, touched his feet and sought blessings, and offered a shawl, garland, and a bouquet of flowers.
The JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September and the two parties said they would soon finalise seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Bommai at his residence, Vijayendra said the former chief minister had assured to travel across Karnataka to campaign for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
“I met former chief minister and senior Basavaraj Bommai on the occasion of Deepavali and took his blessings and sought his continued guidance,” Vijayendra said.
According to the first-time Shikarpura MLA, Bommai was happy that the BJP national leaders have taken a good decision that would give a big boost to the state BJP unit.
“He (Bommai) said he will be with us always. He also said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election is crucial as it will shape the future of the country. We have to face the polls together with unity. He also said he will travel across the state to strengthen the party under my leadership,” Vijayendra said.
Vijayendra said he requested Bommai to attend the ceremony when he formally takes charge on Wednesday.
On his appointment, Vijayendra said the decision to appoint him as the BJP’s state president was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda and BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh.
“They have taken the decision in the interest of the party. I am in touch with all the senior party leaders and everybody is happy. It is unfair to draw any wrong conclusion,” he added.
Vijayendra had said on Sunday that he would “set right” any discordant notes over his appointment in the coming days, and take everyone along.
“If there are any minor differences, then my first priority will be to take the party forward with the blessings and guidance of seniors in the party. I will set right any discordant notes in the coming days,” he said.
This response came amid the remarks by BJP senior leader CT Ravi, who tried to dodge questions related to the appointment of Vijayendra as the state party president — especially given the Congress hitting back at the BJP’s “dynasty politics” taunt. Ravi, in a cryptic remark, said he too was haunted by certain “questions”.
Vijayendra replaced Nalin Kumar Kateel, a three-time Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, who had completed his three-year term as BJP state president and was given an extension last year in view of the Assembly elections held in May this year.
The party, which was ousted from power by the Congress in the elections, has not yet decided on the Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly.
According to Vijayendra, there will be a BJP legislature party meeting on 16 November, or 17 November, to pick the Opposition leader. The meeting would be attended by BJP central observers.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, and accusing it of “dynasty politics” — a charge the saffron party levels against Rahul Gandhi — the Congress in Karnataka posted on X: “Congratulations to the son of Yediyurappa, who has been elected as the new state president of BJP on the merit of him being Yediyurappa’s son.”
Meanwhile, Vijayendra’s father Yediyurappa on Saturday said he did not expect his son to be appointed the party’s Karnataka unit president, adding that he had never put in a word for him with the party leadership in New Delhi.
The former chief minister expressed confidence that Vijayendra would take everyone in the party together to strengthen the organisation and ensure that the BJP wins more than 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the parliamentary polls.
On a question about “BJP’s rout in the Assembly elections after Yediyurappa was sidelined, he said the question of “anyone being sidelined by someone” did not arise.
He said Yediyurappa became more active and toured across the state after stepping down as chief minister, and all the senior party leaders worked to strengthen the party.
“We may have been defeated in the election, but keeping all that aside, we will put more effort into winning all those seats we had won last time in the upcoming Lok Sabha election,” Vijayendra underlined.
Regarding BJP-JD(S) ties, he said discussions had taken place at the highest level. He said he would go to Delhi and discuss with the seniors in the party how to carry it (ties) forward.
(With PTI inputs)
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 09, 2024
