BELAGAVI: Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi and former minister Kumar Bangarappa have defended Vijayapura MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal in connection with the show-cause notice issued to him by the BJP disciplinary committee over his anti-party activities and statements against state party president BY Vijayendra.
The two leaders stated that Yatnal had done nothing wrong and was capable of responding to the notice effectively.
Ramesh, who has joined Yatnal in opposing Vijayendra's leadership, confirmed in Belagavi that he was aware of the notice, which had been issued to Yatnal a few days earlier.
“The notice is not very important, and the media need not focus much on it. It was issued casually by the party, and it's natural for the leadership to act when some leaders speak out against a party leader,” he said. He defended Yatnal’s statements against Vijayendra indirectly and reiterated his own opposition to Vijayendra leading the party in the state.
“Former CM BS Yediyurappa is a dynamic leader who strengthened the party in the state, but Vijayendra cannot be compared to him. He can become the party president only after gaining more experience,” Ramesh said.
While questioning the BJP’s loss in the recent bypolls to three Assembly segments in Karnataka, Ramesh stated that the leaders should be ashamed of losing all three important seats. He recalled Vijayendra’s statement after the elections, in which he said the party had not taken the bypolls seriously, calling it “unfortunate.” Ramesh asserted that Vijayendra was unfit to hold the top party post.
He added that he and Yatnal were working hard for the party’s growth, and that Yatnal would respond to the show-cause notice appropriately. He also reaffirmed his support for Yatnal, saying that the party should appoint a leader capable of gaining the confidence of people from all communities, not just one.
Meanwhile, Kumar expressed confidence that Yatnal would effectively reply to the show-cause notice.