The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled senior leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years, citing repeated instances of indiscipline. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee, following a review of his response to a show cause notice issued on February 10.
In response, Yatnal took to social media, claiming that he was being punished for speaking out against dynasty politics and corruption within the party. He alleged that his expulsion was orchestrated by vested interests to silence his demands for reforms and the development of North Karnataka.
Yatnal has been a vocal critic of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his son, B.Y. Vijayendra, who currently heads the BJP’s Karnataka unit. He previously accused the Yediyurappa government of financial irregularities amounting to ₹40,000 crore during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite his removal, Yatnal vowed to continue his political journey, asserting that he would not be deterred from his fight against corruption and authoritarianism. His expulsion marks a significant development in Karnataka’s political landscape, potentially influencing BJP’s internal dynamics in the state.
