• Source:JND
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The BJP on Wednesday expelled senior leader and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years, citing multiple instances of indiscipline. The decision, announced on Wednesday by the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC), comes after Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who also served as the union minister, failed to adhere to previous warnings.

The CDC’s order, issued by committee member Om Pathak, stated that Yatnal had been given multiple chances to correct his behaviour but continued to violate party discipline.  “The Central Disciplinary Committee of the party has considered your response to the show cause notice dated 10 February 2025 and has taken serious note of your repeated violations of party discipline. Despite your assurances of good behavior, you failed to comply,” the order read. 

“With immediate effect, you are expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years, and you no longer hold any party position,” it added.

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Responding to the expulsion, Yatnal took to social media to allege that he was being punished for opposing dynasty politics and corruption within the party. In a post on X, he claimed that vested interests had orchestrated his removal to silence his calls for reforms and the development of North Karnataka.

“The decision to expel me will not stop my fight against corruption and family politics. I will continue to work for the people with the same dedication,” Yatnal stated. He thanked his supporters, including party workers, religious leaders, media personnel and his family, for standing by him.

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Yatnal has been a vocal critic of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his son, BY Vijayendra, who currently leads BJP’s Karnataka unit. In December 2023, he accused the Yediyurappa-led administration of financial irregularities amounting to Rs 40,000 crore during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had also warned that if expelled, he would expose these alleged financial misdeeds.

Additionally, Yatnal had proposed a public awareness campaign on amendments to the Waqf Bill, a move opposed by several BJP leaders. His independent initiatives, along with frequent defiance of party directives, led to multiple show cause notices over the years.

In December 2024, 32 district BJP presidents formally petitioned the party’s central leadership to take disciplinary action against Yatnal following his public criticism of Vijayendra.

Reacting to the decision, BY Vijayendra, in a post on X, wrote, “The disciplinary action against Yatnal was taken after careful observation over a long period. It was a necessary step.”