Karnataka politics: Win in JD(S) bastion is sign that BY Vijayendra will lead state BJP after Yediyurappa
For the Karnataka BJP, it was a win in 12 seats and routing the opposition Congress and JDS in the by-election to 15 Assembly segments was no doubt a happy occasion for the party in the state. But for chief minister BS Yediyurappa, this is the perfect stage to pave the way for his younger son BY Vijayendra, who could take over the reins from BSY to lead the state unit of the party in the future
FollowBengaluru: The victory of the BJP in JDS's bastion KR Pete Taluk, Mandya district, in the Karnataka by-election, is a momentous occasion for the party.
This not only marks BJP’s entry into the JDS stronghold but the rise of next-generation BJP leader BY Vijayendra as he was in-charge of this Assembly seat.
According to MP Renukacharya, former minister and close confidante of BS Yediyurappa and his two sons, this by-election was a chance for Vijayendra to prove his calibre as a leader. Â Out of the 12 seats, KR Pete was special as he was taking on a stronghold of HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy.
"Just because he is the son on BSY, he should not be given any post, was the feeling among few leaders. Some within the party thought he will be a roadblock for them if he becomes an MLA and hence created problems in the Assembly election in 2018. Now with this victory in which he ensured the win of disqualified MLA Narayan Gowda from Mandya, he has announced his arrival on the big stage," said Renukacharya.
In the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election, BS Yediyurappa had decided to field his son Vijayendra from Hanur Assembly in Chamrajanagar district as it has a sizeable number of Lingayats, the community to which BY Vijayendra belongs. As per sources, adversaries of BSY within the BJP ensured son Vijayendra misses out on a ticket as they feared Vijayendra will take control.
"With age on his side and many leaders backing him, Vijayendra may become next Lingayat leader after BSY and may lead BJP one day." said a source.
JDS Reaction:
The JD(S) which had total control over Mandya district agreed that the humiliating defeat was a shocker and indicated that the BJP will now make efforts to expand their hold.
"We will have to make strategies to win more seats. This win for the BJP and Vijayendra is a fluke as public voted thinking that candidate will become a minister and the area will develop. But now BSY has the headache of accommodating 12 into his Cabinet, which means loyal long-standing MLA's will get nothing for their efforts and it may pave the way for an internal rebellion." said, HK Kumaraswamy, JD(S) president.
