Bengaluru:

The discord within the BJP in Karnataka came out in public on Thursday as the party’s pre-poll march in Chikkamagaluru district was canceled after former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was gheraoed by party workers supporting its national general secretary CT Ravi. was forced to do. ,

Mr Ravi had rejected Mr Yediyurappa’s announcement that his son BY Vijayendra would contest from Shikaripura in Shimoga district in the upcoming elections, leading to protests on Thursday.

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Mudigere constituency this afternoon as Mr Yediyurappa arrived to lead the BJP’s Vijay Sankalp Yatra.

Sources said party workers and supporters of CT Ravi gheraoed the Lingayat bahubali’s car and demanded that the assembly ticket be denied to MP Kumaraswamy, who is eyeing another term in Mudigere constituency.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, known for his unfiltered comments, is seen as a liability by a section of the party.

With Mr Yediyurappa holding a position in the parliamentary board, party workers expected him to be in a position to not only lobby other candidates but also deny him a ticket, especially after announcing his son’s candidature from the Shikaripura constituency. Afterwards.

There was also speculation that the protesters were intended to harass and embarrass the Lingayat strongman, who is seen as indispensable by the party.

Following the chaos, Mr Yediyurappa, clearly upset, was forced to cancel the roadshow.

Visuals from the spot showed him leaving the venue without participating in the yatra and CT Ravi, who was present at the spot, walking in the other direction with his supporters.

The infighting in the state BJP is at its peak before the assembly elections to be held in May. Clashes between ticket-seekers were witnessed in Koratagere ahead of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s visit today.

Cellphone videos from the scene show the candidates for the Koratagere assembly seat – Laxmikant and Anil Kumar – brawling in public. The dispute took place over the installation of flex and banners in the area.

The BJP came to power in Karnataka in 2019 after HD Kumaraswamy’s coalition government and the Congress fell within a year.

The party is hoping for a second consecutive term, but is weakened by infighting. Mr. Yeddyurappa, the tallest leader of the BJP in the South, had to step down from the post of Chief Minister in 2021. This time, he said that he would not contest the election but would work behind the scenes and his younger son BY Vijayendra would contest from Shikaripura.

To refute the allegations of dynastic politics, BJP is not ready to give ticket or party post to Mr. Vijayendra.

Meanwhile, Basavaraj Bommai’s government is grappling with multiple allegations of corruption. Last year, the opposition Congress launched a mock campaign PayCM to highlight allegations that the BJP was charging 40 per cent commission from builders, contractors and others.