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Yediyurappa had taken a backseat after his son Vijayendra’s elevation in November 2023, but factionalism and unresolved grievances forced his return
Yediyurappa’s daily presence at Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru is a clear signal: he remains politically active and retains considerable influence. (PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again turned to its Bheeshma Pitamaha, BS Yediyurappa, amid growing calls for a leadership change in Karnataka. Yediyurappa’s son and state BJP president BY Vijayendra is at the centre of the row that has led to factionalism in the state unit and is hurting the party’s image.
Octogenarian Yediyurappa has been seen visiting the BJP office in Bengaluru every day to listen to grievances from leaders and cadres.
Sources say the BJP leadership is now reconsidering Vijayendra’s position. Many seniors are uneasy with the possibility that he may stake claim to the chief minister’s post in the future if the party returns to power. Yediyurappa’s daily visits, therefore, serve both as a signal of support for his son and as an effort to reduce the disconnect between leadership and cadre.
Sources close to BSY say his return was aimed at providing a platform for party workers to voice concerns directly to him. “It also gives Vijayendra space to focus on his own constituency, Shikaripura,” said a senior functionary.
Yediyurappa had taken a backseat after Vijayendra’s elevation in November 2023, but factionalism and unresolved grievances forced his return. Workers complained their voices were being ignored, and that the lack of engagement had triggered group rivalries.
“This atmosphere encouraged leaders to form camps because the cadre’s issues were being neglected. But this kind of rebellion cannot be tolerated,” said a senior BJP leader.
Asked about the internal rift, Vijayendra maintained a firm stance: “Those unhappy with the way the party is functioning—and who have gone public or engaged in anti-party activity—are no longer with the BJP.”
With the BJP in Karnataka still waiting for a “full-time leadership”, questions are being raised about the performance of both Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka—further adding to the unease within the party.
Party insiders say several senior MLAs are uncomfortable dealing with “junior BSY” at the helm. This has prompted the senior Yediyurappa, now 82, to return to actively engaging with workers and leaders at the party office in a bid to mediate and bridge growing factional cracks.
Although he had formally stepped away from electoral politics in 2023, Yediyurappa’s daily presence at Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru is a clear signal: he remains politically active and retains considerable influence.
Complaints against the state leadership—especially his son Vijayendra—have grown louder in recent months, alongside signs of deepening groupism. The BJP’s dismal performance in the 2023 assembly elections, despite being in power under two chief ministers (Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai), has led to calls to “set the house in order” if the party hopes to return to power.
Factions led by suspended MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, former CM Basavaraj Bommai, MLAs BP Harish, former MLA Kumar Bangarappa, and ex-Union minister GM Siddeshwara have reportedly been meeting behind closed doors and preparing to formally raise their complaints with the central leadership. They accuse Vijayendra of adopting a “closed-door” approach and not engaging with senior leaders—escalating tensions within the party.
Yediyurappa’s absence at the birthday celebrations of Siddeshwara in Davangere drew strong criticism from Aravind Limbavalli, a known dissident and once considered a close associate of BSY.
Vijayendra, a law graduate and first-time MLA from Shikaripura (a seat earlier held by his father), is facing stiff resistance from the rebel faction. Leaders like Limbavalli, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Pratap Simha, Harish, and Kumar Bangarappa used the Siddeshwara event to publicly signal their unity.
Limbavalli hit out at Yediyurappa, calling his absence “unfair” and questioned how Siddeshwara—one of the party’s veterans—was being treated.
While some senior leaders have acknowledged the dissent and promised action, Vijayendra and Union minister Pralhad Joshi have begun outreach efforts. “Things will be sorted out,” Vijayendra said.
However, Joshi, deputed by the central leadership to defuse tensions in Karnataka, has struggled to broker peace. His meetings with factions have yielded little progress, according to insiders.
The high command, meanwhile, has asked the state BJP to intensify its campaign against the Congress government over allegations of corruption and maladministration. “The campaign needs more aggression. Congress is vulnerable, but we’ve not capitalised on it yet,” a senior BJP leader said.
BSY’s return has also made it easier for disgruntled MLAs to reach someone with influence beyond the state. “When Yediyurappa calls, things move. He has long maintained cordial ties across party lines, including with Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar or leaders from the JDS,” a BJP MLA said.
The BJP top brass is walking a tightrope when it comes to Vijayendra. The wounds of the 2023 defeat—attributed to the sidelining of Yediyurappa and alienation of Lingayat voters—are still fresh.
Before making way for Bommai in 2021, BSY had said he would not contest again. On his birthday in Shikaripura last year, he reiterated to News18: “I’m not quitting politics. Even if I don’t contest, I will work for the BJP till my last breath. This is my promise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
In 2022, the party acknowledged his significance by including him in its top decision-making bodies—the Central Parliamentary Board and the Central Election Committee.
Bold and known for his “hot-blooded” politics, Yediyurappa took oath as CM in 2008 in the name of Karnataka’s farmers.
Despite controversial exits, incomplete terms, and pressure from the Centre, he remains one of the BJP’s most popular mass leaders.
In 2008 and 2019, he famously engineered defections—first through Operation Kamala and later by bringing in 17 MLAs—to return to power. But both times, he was pressured to step down by the central leadership, moves that many believed dented the BJP’s image.
Even during periods of strained ties with Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, BSY remained loyal to the party. Denied cabinet approvals and appointments, he ran solo and continued working without breaking ranks.
“He was the face of the campaign in 2023. Despite health issues, he toured extensively. Unfortunately, the people chose differently. We respect that,” said a senior BJP leader close to him.
Known for his outreach beyond caste and community, Yediyurappa cultivated an image of being pro-farmer and pro-poor, and was one of the few BJP leaders with continued goodwill among Muslims despite his RSS roots.
In the face of dissent, the BJP leadership stood firmly by Vijayendra—expelling Yatnal and sending a message that anti-party activity wouldn’t be tolerated.
Speculation over internal reshuffles intensified following Amit Shah’s recent visit to Karnataka. While Vijayendra’s camp remained confident, whispers of a change persisted.
Vijayendra’s recent Delhi trip—initially described as personal—is now believed to have included serious discussions with senior leaders. Meanwhile, the simultaneous presence of R Ashoka in Delhi had fuelled buzz that the post of Leader of the Opposition may see a change.
“We don’t expect a change in the state president for now. But there’s a possibility the Leader of the Opposition role may see a change,” said a senior party source.
Another top functionary summed it up: “No one can read the high command’s mind. But one thing is clear—they’ll pick someone who can unite the party and navigate us into election mode.”
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t…Read More
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t… Read More
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