'Leadership Bankruptcy': Congress's BK Hariprasad On Yediyurappa's Son Becoming K'taka BJP President

Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that there is "leadership bankruptcy" in the BJP.

Congress leader BK Hariprasad

Source : Facebook/B K Hariprasad

New Delhi: Congress leader BK Hariprasad on Tuesday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for appointing former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra Yediyurappa as its state unit president. He said that there is "leadership bankruptcy" in the BJP.

Vijayendra, who won as an MLA from the Shikaripura seat in the last assembly polls, has replaced Nalinkumar Kateel.

"There is leadership bankruptcy in the BJP. So, the younger Yediyurappa has been selected," Hariprasad told ANI.

#WATCH | On newly-appointed Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra, Congress leader BK Hariprasad says, "There is leadership bankruptcy in the BJP. So, the younger Yediyurappa has been selected." pic.twitter.com/n1wEXBUnQr

— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2023

The 47-year-old leader is considered the political heir to Yediyurappa, marking an acknowledgment of the veteran Lingayat leader's lasting influence on the party's fortunes.

After the announcement on Friday, he thanked the BJP high command by saying, "I would like to thank our national president JP Nadda for giving me the opportunity to serve as president of BJP in Karnataka. I would also like to thank PM Modi and Amit Shah for reposing faith in me. Our main aim will be to ensure that party wins the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the state and it further gets strengthened."

"As an humble karyakartha, I am deeply honoured to serve the party with utmost dedication & commitment. Its the blessings of our beloved people, karyakarthas & our great leaders, that will act as my guiding force in this new role," he had posted on X.

I express my deepest gratitude & sincerest thanks to @BJP4India National President Shri @JPNadda ji, Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji & National General Secretary(Org) @blsanthosh ji for reposing faith in me to serve as State President of @BJP4Karnataka 🙏

As an humble…

— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) November 10, 2023

This decision comes after months of speculation about a change in leadership in Karnataka, especially following the BJP's significant defeat to the Congress in the May polls.

While it was anticipated that the BJP would select a Lingayat leader to lead its state unit, the decision to choose a first-time MLA, disregarding dynastic considerations, is notable. This move highlights the continuing political significance of Yediyurappa, despite his exit from electoral politics, and challenges the party's usual stance against dynastic politics.