Vijayendra Staunchly Opposes K'taka Government: Confident in His Leadership Role

Bengaluru, Jan 18 (NationPress) Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has declared that he has been relentlessly challenging this government on multiple fronts and is optimistic about maintaining his role as the party's state president.

During a media briefing here on Saturday, Vijayendra addressed rumors regarding senior BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal potentially being positioned as a challenger for this role.

“Given my extensive efforts over the past year, I am confident that the party's leadership will choose to retain me as state president,” he asserted.

He highlighted the party's democratic processes, stating, “Even if senior members and leaders opt for a different path, I have been consistently opposing the government. Under my guidance, the party's organizational initiatives have progressed well, and the workers are content. While some senior figures have made various comments, I remain committed. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been assigned to engage with senior leaders to make a thoughtful decision regarding the upcoming elections,” Vijayendra elaborated.

Reaffirming his faith in his leadership, he said, “I have complete trust in myself and my contributions over the past year.”

Vijayendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, has played a key role in mobilizing the influential Lingayat community, which has aided the BJP's ascent in Karnataka. However, he now faces challenges from party seniors and rivals of Yediyurappa who are intent on replacing him.

Vijayendra accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of manipulating the caste census to distract from corruption scandals. He asserted, “Scandals have emerged in Valmiki Corporation, MUDA, and state-owned KEONICS, where contractors are left in despair. The government needs to clarify whether the caste census is driven by genuine intent or ulterior motives.”

Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he questioned, “If Siddaramaiah is genuinely dedicated, why hasn’t he acted on the caste census report submitted in 2016? This delay suggests a political conspiracy aimed at creating divisions among castes, which is indefensible.”

In response to Minister Priyank Kharge's claim that BJP leaders should return grants of Rs 10 crore if they oppose, Vijayendra countered, “Providing grants is not a privilege; it’s an obligation. Despite being in power for two years, the Congress government has not disbursed these grants, causing frustration among MLAs in various constituencies.”

Vijayendra criticized the government regarding the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. He commended social activist Snehamayi Krishna for unveiling irregularities and condemned the Congress government for targeting him.

“The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized assets worth Rs 300 crore, implicating CM Siddaramaiah’s family in the illicit acquisition of 14 properties. This scam has led to significant financial losses for MUDA and the government. Properties intended for the underprivileged have been transferred to real estate and commission agents in collusion with the government,” Vijayendra alleged.

He further accused Siddaramaiah of neglecting legal responsibility. “The Governor approved the prosecution of Siddaramaiah, and the Karnataka High Court supported this decision, citing illegal allocations to his family. The ED has now reinforced these findings,” he claimed.

Vijayendra demanded Siddaramaiah’s resignation and urged him to transfer the case to the CBI. “I hold no personal grudge against Siddaramaiah. However, when confronted with such grave accusations, he ought to have resigned and facilitated a fair investigation. Instead, he has unnecessarily prolonged the matter. For the sake of justice, he must resign and allow an impartial inquiry,” he insisted.