Karnataka: Rival faction in BJP plans another yatra against Congress, minus state unit chief Vijayendra
Karnataka BJP unit has come to the fore with sections of leaders holding secret parleys and planning a separate padayatra against the ruling Congress in North Karnataka, next month.
The group does not want to involve the State unit president BY Vijayendra in an apparent challenge to his leadership.
A dozen of them met in Belagavi on Sunday on the pretext of chalking out plans for the padayatra, but the discussions were focused around the 48-year-old leader’s style of functioning and how they could rein him in, sources said. Some of those who attended were former MLAs and MPs.
Senior leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had been a fierce critic of BJP Parliamentary Board member BS Yediyurappa’s family. His comments suggested the same hostility towards Vijayendra too. But in recent weeks, this group is said to be swelling.
The son of Yediyurappa had successfully led a weeklong padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru from August 3 seeking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation over misuse of funds meant for tribal welfare as well as ‘illegal’ allotment of 14 plots to his wife Parvathi. The yatra saw widespread participation of leaders at all public rallies along the way.
An unnerved Congress had to plan a counter campaign to defend its actions.
Soon after the BJP yatra’s successful conclusion, all those who are keeping a distance from Vijayendra began coming together to pursue a common agenda.
The dissident group in the BJP now wants to hold a second padayatra from Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district to Ballari, but
