BJP rebels decide to appeal to high command to roll back Yatnal’s expulsion

Rebel leaders in the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who had identified themselves with senior MLA Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal — who has been expelled from the party for six years for “anti-party” activities — met here on Friday and decided to appeal to the party high command to roll back the expulsion.

Significantly, Mr. Yatnal was also part of the meeting held at former Davangere MP G.M. Siddeshwar’s flat.

‘In the interest of party’

Even as another member of the rebel group, B.P. Harish, MLA, has also been served a show-cause notice by the disciplinary action committee of the party, the leaders sought to show a united front and underline that they are “fighting in the interest of the party”.

Mr. Yatnal, who had stayed put in his home town since his expulsion from the party, landed in Bengaluru on Friday morning and participated in the meeting. Party MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mr. Harish, Kumar Bangarappa, Mr. Siddeshwar, and others were part of the meeting.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, Mr. Bangarappa said the suspension of Mr. Yatnal for six years had pained the common party workers and Hindutva organisations in the State. He said they would appeal to the high command to reconsider its decision and roll back the expulsion.

“This does not mean we are opposing the decision of the high command. We are only appealing to them to set the BJP in the State in order. The central leadership has heard us as well and we are confident of good news soon,” he said, indicating that they were hopeful of changes in the party’s leadership in the State. The rebel group has made the removal of B.Y. Vijayendra as the chief of the State unit of the party one of its main agenda.

No new outfit

Mr. Bangarappa sought to clarify that reports that the group of rebels was working to launch a new political outfit were baseless. “We are working in the interest of the party and want to bring it to power in 2028,” he said.

He said the meeting also discussed the show-cause notice issued to Mr. Harish. “The time to send his reply ends on Friday. We have provided him guidance from legal and political advisers to draft his reply,” he said.