The infighting between BJP leaders Ramesh Jigajinagi, MP, and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, MLA, seems to be only escalating as the Lok Sabha elections draw near.
In a fresh salvo, Mr. Jigajinagi has said that the public will “teach a fitting lesson” to BJP leaders who will be campaigning for the Congress covertly. This came in response to Mr. Yatnal’s recent statements in praise of Home Minister M.B. Patil and in criticism of Mr. Jigajinagi.
A few days ago, during a convention of the Banjara community, Mr. Yatnal said he still wielded enough power to “make anybody win or lose elections”, in an oblique threat to Mr. Jigajinagi who is expected to be the candidate from Vijayapura.
Mr. Jigajinagi was one of the strong opponents when the saffron party re-inducted Mr. Yatnal, who had been sacked over alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline.
In the division between the two groups in the party, while Arun Shahapur, MLC, Appu Pattanshetty, former MLA, and a host of councillors are with Mr. Jigajinagi, Mr. Yatnal enjoys the support of a smaller section of councillors. No big leader has openly aligned himself with him. This became evident during the last Assembly elections, when no leader, including Mr. Jigajinagi, Mr. Shahapur, and Mr. Pattanshetty, campaigned for Mr. Yantal.
The political enmity between them took an ugly turn during a recent party convention when a group of Mr. Yatnal’s supporters shouted slogans such as “ Abhyarthi badalasi, BJP gellisi” (Change the candidate and ensure BJP’s victory). The supporters were staging a dharna a few feet from the podium on which party leaders, including BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa, were present.
While the convention was going on, supporters of Mr. Yatnal and Mr. Jigajinagi clashed, and two persons, said to be supporters of the former, were injured.
BJP district unit president Chandrashekhar Kavatagi, however, is hopeful of bringing the warring leaders on to a common platform at least until the end of the elections. He said internal differences can be resolved later.
