The former minister is upset with not being chosen Karnataka BJP chief, and says party leaders worked to defeat him in the Assembly polls.
BJP former minister V Somanna has been invited to Delhi by the party high command for talks on Wednesday. (supplied)
The BJP central leadership has extended an invitation to Lingayat leader and former Karnataka minister V Somanna to visit Delhi.
However, the disgruntled leader has set certain conditions before the high command in order to turn up for the meeting.
Ever since the 72-year-old BJP veteran lost from the Varuna and Chamarajanagar Assembly constituencies in the 10 May Karnataka assembly polls, he has not only been sulking but also fuming against a section of his own party, including BJP Parliamentary Board member and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
He did not display his dissent publicly when the high command appointed Yediyurappa’s son and first-time MLA BY Vijayendra as the Karnataka BJP president. Somanna was also an aspirant for the post.
He received a call from the BJP central leadership on Wednesday and was asked to come to Delhi for talks. However, the dates for the Delhi visit have not yet been finalised, said sources.
Like-minded BJP MLAs Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Aravind Bellad, and former minister Aravind Limbavalli are likely to accompany Somanna on the Delhi visit, claimed sources in the party.
On the other hand, Somanna is said to be demanding a party ticket for the Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming general elections. He has been camping in Tumakuru for the last few weeks.
Even as the BJP high command invited Somanna to Delhi for talks, he asked the central leadership to also call senior leaders from the Karnataka unit for the meeting, stating that he would attend the meeting only if they were included.
Earlier this month, Somanna said that he would meet the party high command with like-minded party leaders in Delhi on 7 December. However, the meeting was postponed because of various political reasons.
Somanna confirmed to the South First that he received a call from the party high command on Wednesday.
“I have been invited to Delhi for talks. I made it clear to them that they should invite other senior leaders, including BS Yediyurappa, for the meeting in order for me to attend,” he told South First.
The BJP veteran added: “The dates for the Delhi visit are yet to be finalised. Even the party’s central leadership is busy with post-result activities in Rajasthan. They will be free only by Friday.”
Meanwhile, he also said: “I will attend the meeting, if and only if the party has invited other leaders as well. I want to express openly before the high command the adjustment politics by a section of leaders within the cadre, who conspired to defeat not only me but other leaders as well.”
He added: “Some of the leaders have prioritised their personal interests over party interests in the assembly polls. Why is the injustice being meted out only on me?”
On talks over him being active in Tumakuru ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Somanna told South First: “Why should I prepare a ground for the general elections? I have been in politics for the last five decades and have a good rapport with the people here.”
He added: “The final decision on fielding me from Tumakuru rests with the party high command. It is too early to comment on the matter.”
Meanwhile, on condition of anonymity, a close aide of Somanna told South First: “Somanna is unhappy with a section of the party leaders, especially with Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra over the adjustment in politics in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.”
He added: “When Somanna was fielded from the Varuna Assembly seat, there were talks in the party that if he managed to win, he would be given plum post. This did not go down well with a section of senior leaders, resulting in a conspiracy against the former minister to ensure his defeat.”
The aide also said: “There was adjustment politics even in the Shikaripura Assembly seat in order to ensure Vijayendra’s victory. Similarly, some party leaders adjusted either to ensure victory or defeat their own party men in the Assembly polls. This was the main factor for the BJP’s debacle in elections.”
He also said that Somanna became enraged after Yediyurappa lobbied for his son to get the state president post by sidelining several senior leaders.
Meanwhile, on whether he would continue in politics considering the age criteria set by the BJP, he said: “I am only 72 years old. I will continue to be in active politics for another 10-15 years.”
He added: “When Yediyurappa is 80 years old and lobbying for his son’s political career, why shouldn’t I? I will be active in politics.”
It may also be noted that Somanna, who hails from the influential Lingayat community, enjoys a good rapport with most of the pontiffs and seers of the prominent mutts across the state. He is the seniorest Lingayat leader after Yediyurappa in the BJP.
Having managed to achieve the tasks entrusted by the high command during the Assembly by-polls in 2019 and 2021, Somanna campaigned extensively in Maski, Sindagi, and other Assembly seats and ensured the party’s victory as well.
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