Barely three years ago, Murugesh Nirani and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal — two prominent leaders of the BJP from the Panchamasali Lingayat sect — were collaborating to take on “common enemies”.
With Murugesh Nirani now in the Cabinet as industries minister and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal denied a berth, the duo’s public bickering and badmouthing has left the BJP red-faced ahead of the Assembly elections.
At a time the party should have been focused on putting up a united effort to woo voters, especially from among its traditional vote bank of Lingayats in the region, the bickering between Nirani and Yatnal could affect the party’s chances in the districts of the Kittur Karnataka region.
The Kittur Karnataka region comprises the seven districts of Uttara Kannada, Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Gadag and Haveri.
From Yatnal making abusive remarks against Nirani, to Nirani questioning Yatnal’s legitimacy, the two leaders have been trading derogatory barbs in public.
Disciplinary Committee notice
The BJP Disciplinary Committee has reportedly served a notice to former Union minister Yatnal over his derogatory remarks against Ministers Nirani and CC Patil, who holds public works portfolio.
Yatnal has, however, denied that he has received any notice from the committee.
“This is an effort by a section of leaders to defame my image, ahead of the Assembly polls,” Yatnal told reporters at Vijayapura.
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On condition of anonymity, a BJP leader told South First: “The BJP General Secretary and Karnataka In-charge Arun Singh has personally spoken to Yatnal over the phone and expressed anger over him attacking the two senior ministers of the party. He also cautioned him that action would be initiated, if he continues with the same attitude.”
It may be noted that it is not the first time Yatnal that has been issued a notice by the Disciplinary Committee.
He has been slapped with notices at least three times in the past for making derogatory remarks against senior party leaders, including former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and members of his family.
Matter reaches Delhi
While the BJP disciplinary committee has reportedly served notice to Yatnal, the state party unit has also reported the matter of the Vijayapura City MLA publicly attacking ministers and senior party leaders to the high command in Delhi.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters: “The party high command will take a final call on initiating disciplinary action against Yatnal. We have reported to the party leadership against Yatnal for making derogatory statements against the ministers and party leaders in recent times.”
“The state party chief has detailed the latest developments to the party leaders and also submitted a report on the same. We will decide on the matter after the national executive meeting,” Bommai told reporters in Delhi recently.
Denting BJP’s image
Ever since Murugesh Nirani was inducted into former chief minister Yediyurappa’s Cabinet, a disgruntled Yatnal is said to be targeting the former. The race to emerge as the more significant leader in the Panchamasali community between the two is also leading to the slugfest.
In the recent agitation for reservations to the Panchamasali sect, Yatnal made derogatory comments against Nirani. “There is a ‘p**p’ minister (referring to Nirani). He is doing the p**p work. It is his business. I did not stoop so low to do dirty work to become rich,” Yatnal claimed.
“He makes statements that he will ensure that the party doesn’t give tickets to me. He also said that he will defeat me. You (Nirani) first look at your fate,” Yatnal lambasted Nirani.
Enraged by the statements, Nirani told reporters: “His loose talks reveals that he isn’t his father’s son. If he was really born to his father, he wouldn’t have spoken like this. Being in the BJP he is criticising the party. He has been elected on the party’s symbol. He is cheating the party. He should shut his mouth,” charged Nirani.
The bickering escalated when Yatnal made references to CDs being used to threaten him.
“These people are blackmailing by keeping CDs. They become ministers by threatening the use of CDs. I won’t stoop so low,” retorted Yatnal, insinuating that Nirani had blackmailed his way into the Cabinet.
Even in the past, when Nirani was inducted into Yediyurappa Cabinet, Yatnal had alleged that Nirani had become minister by blackmailing the former chief minister with a CD.
“I know what all routes he had used to get into the Cabinet. The people who criticised and used offensive words against Hindu gods have become ministers by blackmailing with a CD,” Yatnal accused Nirani in 2021.
Tussle for community leadership
On condition anonymity, a senior BJP leader from North Karnataka told South First: “These two Panchamasali leaders not only have aspirations to be the topmost leader of the community but are also eyeing for chief minister’s post.
“Apart from this, Yatnal was irked when the party preferred Nirani over him in the Cabinet — not only in the Yediyurappa government but also in the Bommai government.”
“The tussle between these two leaders is impacting the party’s image in Bagalkote and Vijayapura,” the leader continued.
“The party is considering the issue seriously. Bommai has tried to pacify both the leaders, but in vain. Now, the ball is in the court of central party leadership. The party is making an effort to resolve the problems between both the leaders before the polls,” added the BJP leader.
