Bengaluru: First-time MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, was on Friday appointed as the State unit president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his appointment has been made on the order of BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Vijayendra represents Shikaripura Assembly segment in Shivamogga district, a seat which was represented by his father. He replaced Nalin Kumar Kateel as the State head of BJP.
It is said that Vijayendra has been made the State unit head considering that his father Yeddyurappa, now retirement from electoral politics, has considerable clout in State politics and as per caste calculations goes, the new State head of BJP belongs to politically dominant Lingayat community which form a major chunk of voters particularly in north Karnataka districts.
The prospects of BJP winning more seats in ensuing Lok Sabha elections in 2024 largely hinges on Yeddyurappa. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, BJP won in 25 seats out of 28 seats.
It may be recalled here that BJP had to suffer defeat in 2013 Assembly elections in Karnataka after Yeddyurappa quit BJP and headed Karnataka Janata Party (KJP). BJP had to pay heavy price after Yeddyurappa quit BJP and Congress party came to power in 2013.
Later, Yeddyurappa rejoined the BJP and after the collapse of Janata Dal Secular and Congress party coalition government, B.S. Yeddyurappa became the Chief Minister in 2019 and he was succeeded by Basavaraj Bommai.
Welcoming the appointment of Vijayendra, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai wished that under Vijayendra the party would gain strength and the organization become stronger.
Now, Janata Dal Secular and BJP have forged an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. JDS leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy exuded confidence that Vijayendra would discharge his duties effectively and wished him all the success.
Vijayendra’s father Yeddyurappa had served as the State unit president of BJP. After retirement from electoral politics, Yeddyurappa made for his son Vijayendra to contest from Shikaripura which he won. Yeddyurappa’s son B.Y. Raghavendra is a Lok Sabha member representing Shivamogga parliamentary seat.
