What Yediyurappa said after BJP denied MLC ticket to his son Vijayendra

In what is being seen in some political quarters as a setback to former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, the BJP central leadership on Tuesday (May 24) denied MLC tickets to his son B Y Vijayendra and a loyalist.

Ignoring the recommendation of the state unit to field Vijayendra for the June 3 biennial election to seven seats of Karnataka Legislative Council, the party central leadership announced names of four candidates, hours before the deadline for filing of nominations ended on Wednesday.

The candidates announced by the BJP central leadership are: Former Deputy Chief Minister and party vice-president Laxman Savadi, party’s state secretaries Hemalatha Nayak and and S Keshavaprasad and President of SC Morcha Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.

The party also fielded JD(S) veteran Basavaraj Horatti, who recently resigned as the Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council and MLC, and joined the party, as the candidate for upcoming MLC polls from West Teachers’ constituency.

Yediyurappa’s loyalist Mohan Limbikai was a key aspirant of BJP ticket to the seat, but was overlooked.

With the party deciding against fielding him as a candidate, Vijayendra issued an appeal and said power and position itself are not the ultimate objectives in politics.

Asking his supporters and well-wishers to abide by the party’s decision, he also appealed against making any unnecessary comments on social media and elsewhere, following this decision.

Yediyurappa also tweeted congratulating the candidates announced by the central leadership.

According to party sources, the leadership decided against giving ticket to Vijayendra, as it wants to field him as a candidate during the 2023 Assembly elections, and is likely to give him a greater role in the party ahead of the polls, as a placatory move.

Earlier too there were reports that Vijayendra might be fielded to contest the 2023 Assembly polls from one of the seats in the old Mysuru (south Karnataka) region, where the party is considered weak. He too had recently stated that he is interested in working in the region, if the party decides.

“We (state core committee) had recommended Vijayendra’s name unanimously; as he has various opportunities, the high command might have taken this decision after considering various factors. He is now the state Vice-President and has to play many roles,” BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel told reporters in Bengaluru.

There were some reports that Yediyurappa had desired to make his son an MLC and then insist on making him minister in the Basavaraj Bommai cabinet.

There have been such demands from his supporters after Yediyurappa stepped down as Chief Minister in July last year.

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The central leadership is also said to have decided against Vijayendra’s candidature, as it will weaken the BJP’s stand against dynasty politics, ahead of 2023 assembly polls, as Yediyurappa is currently a MLA from Shikaripura assembly seat, while his elder son B Y Ragahavendra is Shivamogga MP.

Vijayendra was appointed as the party vice-president in July 2020. Before that, he was appointed as BJP youth wing general secretary, soon after he was denied a party ticket to contest from Varuna constituency in Mysuru, ahead of the May 2018 assembly polls.

Yediyurappa says his son will get bigger role

Meanwhile, Yediyurappa on Wednesday indicated the possibility of a bigger role for his son.

“There is no need to attach special meaning to Vijayendra being denied a Legislative Council ticket. I am confident that naturally, Vijayendra will get a big opportunity in the future. Party will never let down those with capability and loyalty,” Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters, the former CM said, the aim is to bring the party back to power in Karnataka in the 2023 Assembly polls.

Asked whether Vijayendra lost out on getting the ticket because of BJP national General Secretary B L Santosh, who is considered to be Yediyurappa’s bete-noire, the veteran leader said, “It has nothing to do with him, unnecessarily such things are being said in the media, and there is no meaning to it.”

Asked if Vijayendra would be given a ticket for the next assembly polls, Yediyurappa said, “Why discuss it now itself, let’s see when that situation comes.”

(With inputs from agencies)