Karnataka BJP is divided in two factions. While one is headed by Vijayendra, the likes of Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Arvind Limbavali, Pratap Simha are against Yediyurappa family.
Bengaluru: Amid the open outpouring of dissent, factionalism in Karnataka’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a new turn with senior leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accusing his party state head of fraud and forgery, giving the Congress government more ammunition to corner the opposition.
Yatnal accused former chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa’s son and Karnataka BJP president B.Y.Vijayendra of forging his father’s signature in the two terms in power.
“He (Vijayendra) forged his father’s signature. Investigate it. If you (Congress), Siddaramaiah and D.K.Shivakumar have the courage…when Yediyurappa was the CM, how many signatures did he sign, of which how many are authentic and how many were forged. Send it to the forensic lab,” the Yediyurappa baiter said Sunday.
This is not the first time that he has levelled serious allegations against the Yediyurappa family. In December 2023, Yatnal alleged that Yediyurappa was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore scam during the Covid pandemic.
The central brass’ inaction against Yatnal has emboldened the rebel faction that also includes Ramesh Jarkiholi, Arvind Limbavali, Pratap Simha among others, to take frequent potshots against the Yediyurappa family, further adding to the growing divide within the principal opposition party in Karnataka.
Latching on to Yatnal’s statement, rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge said that the Congress government was willing to probe the allegations levelled by the Bijapur City MLA.
More precisely, the latest round of accusations has given the faction-hit ruling Congress party a breather from its own internal troubles.
In a long post on ‘X’, Kharge said that the allegations are criminal in nature. “They have alleged that the BJP state president had forged signatures when Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister. Forging the signature of the head of the administration is a very serious crime, and the BJP must answer to the people about this…,” he said.
He added that the other allegations that Vijayendra was a ‘collection master’ (seeking bribes) would also be probed. In 2011, Yediyurappa was jailed for nearly one month over widespread allegations of corruption. The veteran leader continues to face several charges, including one of sexually assaulting a minor.
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