BJP names Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra as Karnataka party chief

BJP’s decision flies in face of its oft-repeated charge of ‘dynastic politics’ against Congress. Vijayendra replaces Nalin Kumar Kateel, under whose leadership BJP lost 2023 Assembly polls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa, at the latter's residence, in Bengaluru in March this year. B. Y. Vijayendra is also seen at the back | File Photo: ANI

Bengaluru: The BJP Friday named veteran Karnataka leader B.S. Yediyurappa’s son as the state unit chief, in the clearest signal that the party continues to rely on the former chief minister rather than groom a set of backup leaders.

The BJP said Friday evening in a statement that Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra would take charge with immediate effect.

The Shikaripura MLA replaced Nalin Kumar Kateel, under whose leadership the party was handed a crushing defeat in the May 2023 Assembly elections.

Kateel, the MP from Dakshina Kannada, was given an extension for the state elections even though his three-year tenure had expired in August last year. Vijayendra was Kateel’s deputy, who successfully contested the May polls.

The BJP’s central leadership certainly took its time to name the new state chief, and its final choice flies in the face of its oft-repeated charge of “dynastic politics” against Opposition parties, particularly the Congress.

After his appointment, Vijayendra thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X.

My Humble Pranams to Honourable PM Shri @narendramodi ji for entrusting me with this huge responsibility as the State President of @BJP4Karnataka 🙏

I consider this as a divine opportunity to work with our beloved Karyakarthas under the able guidance of Senior Leaders in…

— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) November 10, 2023

Incidentally in 2018, the BJP ignored its unwritten rule of retiring leaders above 75 years when it chose Yediyurappa as chief minister.

Vijayendra, however, is viewed amid party ranks as a divisive figure, and apparently ran a parallel administration under the blessings of his then CM father.

The firebrand BJP legislator from Vijayapura, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, has openly accused Yediyurappa and his son of widespread corruption.

The dissent that Yediyurappa faced from his colleagues during his fourth stint as CM was largely because of Vijayendra’s high-handedness, according to senior leaders. His appointment over other probables, such as Shobha Karandlaje, C.T. Ravi, C.N. Ashwath Narayan and Sunil Kumar, proves the party prefers to be on familiar ground, according to analysts.

As for 2024, the BJP has also tied up with its friend-turned-foe-turned-friend, the Janata Dal (Secular), signalling the party was desperate to claw back back its way onto lost ground.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)