The BJP on Friday appointed Vijayendra Yediyurappa, the son of former Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa, its state unit president, a decision that underscores the party leadership’s acknowledgement of the veteran Lingayat leader’s enduring influence on its fortunes despite its avowed stand against promoting family politics.
Vijayendra replaces Nalinkumar Kateel, a three-time Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, who had completed his three-year term as the BJP state president, and was given an extension last year in view of the impending Assembly elections.
The appointment of the 47-year-old leader, seen as the political heir to Yediyurappa, ends months of speculation as a change of guard in the state was widely expected since the BJP suffered a big defeat to the Congress in the assembly polls held in May this year.
In the elections, Vijayendra won the Shikaripura seat in his electoral debut by a margin of 11,008 votes. In 2020, Vijayendra was appointed vice president of the BJP’s Karnataka unit.
Following the announcement, taking a swipe at BJP accusing it of “dynasty politics”, the Congress in Karnataka on ‘X’ said, “Congratulations to son of Yediyurappa, who has been elected as the new state president of BJP on the merit of him being Yediyurappa’s son.”
Meanwhile, JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and its state President H D Kumaraswamy congratulated Vijayendra over a phone call, his office said in a statement.
“Already active in the (BJP) organisation as a young leader, he has been given a huge responsibility at a young age. I am confident that he will be able to handle this onerous responsibility entrusted to him. I wish Mr. Vijayendra all the best,” Kumaraswamy later posted on ‘X’.
JD(S) and BJP in September had announced an alliance, and the former joining the NDA, following a meeting of Kumaraswamy with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda in New Delhi.
Both parties are yet to formalise details of the alliance, including seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls, in which Vijayendra is likely to play a crucial role in the days ahead.
BJP national President J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar were among the prominents who congratulated Vijayendra over phone.