Will Lingayat leader B.P. Yatnal's expulsion impact BJP in Karnataka?

With the expulsion of rebel MLA from Vijayapura, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for six years citing “repeated violation of party discipline”, the BJP high command has finally put an end to the factional feud between state party president BY Vijayendra and rebel MLA Yatnal. But will the expulsion prove costly to the saffron party?

The move runs the risk of dividing the party’s core Lingayat vote bank as well the party cadres as Yatnal, a Panchamasali Lingayat leader from north Karnataka has a huge following among the cadres for his hardline Hindutva and there are many senior leaders, who, like Yatnal resent the “out of turn” elevation of a “junior and inexperienced” Vijayendra as the party chief.

Vijayendra's guarded response to Yatnal’s expulsion says it all. “The decision (to expel Yatnal) was inevitable and unfortunate and was taken after careful observations by the party leadership. I would not celebrate his expulsion,” said Vijayendra in a long social media post, who reminded his partymen that the party was built by hard work and sacrifices.

“The party gives primacy to discipline and sacrifice and there are no examples of our predecessors having compromised on these values. I have never complained to the party leadership about the bitter incidents in the party and tried to emulate my father who built the party with equanimity and considered the party like one big family. Let us unite as a party, accept constructive suggestions and take the party forward to strengthen Narendra Modi’s resolve for a “Vikasit Bharat” (developed India),” asserted Vijayendra, sensing the mood in the cadres.

The BJP in the state, which has cadres from across the communities, is still perceived as a Lingayat-centric party for its over dependence on the Lingayat leaders and voters. Vijayendra was picked as the state chief to placate the Lingayat community which was miffed over the party removing veteran leader and Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister, despite the party having other alternatives like C.T. Ravi, R Ashok, Yatnal, Arvind Bellad, Basavaraj Bommai, Shobha Karandlaje, V Sunil Kumar and Murugesh Nirani.

Vijayendra (49), a first-time MLA elevated to the top post (in November 2023) to lead the party in a crucial election (LS polls) made no sense, claimed senior leaders, who also alleged that the Shikaripura MLA had bagged the post only by virtue of being Yediyurappa’s son.

Hindutva brigade under attack? 

Before Yatnal, former deputy chief minister and a Kuruba leader KS Eshwarappa was expelled from the party. Ahead of the 2024 Parliament polls, the party denied tickets to hardline Hindutva leaders like Anantkumar Hegde (Uttara Kannada) and Pratap Simha (Mysuru-Kodagu).

While, both Vijayendra and Yatnal belong to the Lingayat community, Yatnal belongs to Panchamasalis, a subsect which is numerically strong. The pontiffs from Panchamasali mutts have warned of massive protests if the expulsion is not revoked.

Yatnal, who had been alleging that Yediyurappa and son had taken control over the party and were indulging in “adjustment politics” with the ruling Congress responded to the expulsion stating, “The party has rewarded me for calling a spade, a spade, and expelled me for six years for speaking against dynasty politics, corruption and calling for reforms and removal of one upmanship and development of north Karnataka. Some vested interests have played their part successfully in furthering their agenda. This will not deter me from fighting against corruption, family politics and for development of North Karnataka and Hindutva.”

The show-cause notice to five other party leaders from both camps has sent a strong message that "indiscipline" and "infighting" would not be tolerated and might help the party to work unitedly even as it prepares for the upcoming ZP, TP and local body elections, and the next big challenge - the 2026  Assembly polls.