Belagavi/Bengaluru: BJP central brass’ decision to expel senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party has stoked strong reactions from the Lingayat community with prominent Panchamasali Lingayat seer, Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangam, demanding his reinstatement by April 10. He said failure to comply will result in a massive Panchamasali protest in Belagavi on April 13.
The seer accused former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son and BJP state president BY Vijayendra of orchestrating what he called “a political conspiracy” against Yatnal. He said the entire Lingayat community stands behind Yatnal.
“We are not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi or other national BJP functionaries, but its Karnataka brass has misled them,” the seer said. “After Yediyurappa failed to fulfil his promise of granting 2A reservation to Panchamasalis, the community rallied behind Yatnal. He emerged as a strong Lingayat leader in North Karnataka, which is why this conspiracy was hatched.”
He called the decision a “blunder” that could alienate the party from the politically influential community.
“No political party in Karnataka can form a govt without Lingayat support,” he said. “BJP brass should have learnt from history — Congress suffered whenever it sidelined prominent Lingayats like Veerendra Patil and S Nijalingappa.”
The pontiff urged all Panchamasali Lingayat MLAs in BJP to resign and quit the party in protest. “His expulsion is a setback for BJP. The Panchamasali community will stand by him regardless of the decision he takes,” he said.
Rebels to meet today
Rebel BJP functionaries, meanwhile, pledged support to Yatnal with former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi saying they will meet in Bengaluru on Friday to persuade Yatnal to formally appeal to the BJP high command. But he ruled out sending a delegation to Delhi and dismissed reports of Yatnal being isolated. “He is not alone; we are with him,” Jarkiholi said.
Jarkiholi was confident the expulsion would be revoked, saying “mistakes happen in politics” and that they can be condoned. He insisted Yatnal’s expulsion was not because he criticised Vijayendra since he (Jarkiholi) too had criticised the state president and faced no consequences.
Adding to the chorus of dissent, former minister B Sreeramulu urged BJP to reconsider its decision while emphasising the Panchamasali community’s demographic strength which he said was 24% of the state’s population.
“I warned Yatnal numerous times about his verbal attack on Yediyurappa,” Sreeramulu said. “He speaks his mind but without malice. This mindset is not respected in current politics. A person like him, who is so forthright, is unlikely to receive appreciation.”
Sreeramulu also hinted at political ramifications. “Yatnal’s removal has unsettled hardline Hindus,” he said. “I believe PM Modi and Amit Shah should reconsider. If given the opportunity, I will travel to Delhi to meet senior functionaries and press for a review. This is not about personal interests — state leaders must seek reconciliation.”