Bengaluru: BJP has finally expelled senior MLA and Hindutva hardliner Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years, citing repeated instances of indiscipline. The decision, announced on Wednesday by the party’s central disciplinary committee, was prompted by his relentless attacks on Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra and his father and former CM B S Yediyurappa.
Vijayendra took to X to justify Yatnal’s expulsion as “an inevitable step, taken after careful observation by senior leaders”. Reacting strongly to the party’s move, 60-year-old Yatnal accused “vested interests” of orchestrating his removal. “The party has rewarded me for ‘calling a spade, a spade’. Certain vested interests have played their part in furthering their agenda successfully,” he said in a post on X. “The decision to expel me will not deter my fight against corruption, dynasty politics, the development of north Karnataka and Hindutva,” he added.
Yatnal was informed of his expulsion through a letter signed by Om Pathak, secretary of BJP disciplinary panel.
Despite receiving the show-cause notice last month, Yatnal remained defiant and continued with his diatribe against Vijayendra and Yediyurappa. This is the third time in the last one-and-a-half decade he has been expelled from BJP.
