‘Won’t Deter My Fight Against Corruption’: ‘Hot-Headed’ Karnataka MLA Yatnal Expelled For 6 Years For Indiscipline
From alleging that some leaders “blackmailed and bribed” their way into the Karnataka cabinet to threatening to expose a Rs 40,000 crore scam under Yediyurappa’s BJP rule if expelled, Yatnal has showed no hesitation in taking on his own party
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, considered BJP’s “hot-headed" leader whose statements have often put the party in a tough spot, has hit a hat-trick. Yatnal has been expelled from the BJP for six years for repeated instances of indiscipline—his third such expulsion in his three-decade-long career.
BJP state chief BY Vijayendra, speaking to News18, said it was important to respect the decisions made by senior party leaders regarding the organisation and “not get distracted from the goal of rebuilding the BJP and bringing back the party to power in Karnataka".
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He said: “We are part of a cultured and disciplined organisation, and the decision made by the seniors should be respected. There is no need to celebrate it, but we must focus on building a stronger party and ensuring that the corrupt Congress is thrown out. The party needs to be strengthened and taken to greater heights—that should be the focus."
Calling the expulsion an “inevitable step," Vijayendra also appealed to party workers: “I request you not to celebrate the decision taken by the party leaders today against indiscipline."
Yatnal, who has had a history of confrontations, especially with BS Yediyurappa and his family, previously served as an MP and held posts such as MoS railways and textiles. The Bijapur MLA has been warned several times by the party high command to rein in his statements. His relentless attacks against senior BJP leader Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra created visible rifts within the party and unrest among party workers.
Despite multiple show-cause notices, Yatnal refused to soften his stance. From alleging that some leaders “blackmailed and bribed" their way into the Karnataka cabinet to threatening to expose a Rs 40,000 crore scam under Yediyurappa’s BJP rule if expelled, he showed no hesitation in taking on his own party.
While he continued to challenge the party leadership, his influence over Panchamasali Lingayats made him difficult to sideline. State BJP leaders found themselves caught between pressure from Delhi and the challenge of dealing with the defiant leader.
Yatnal called his expulsion a reward “for calling a spade a spade". He said in a post on X: “Certain vested interests have played their part in furthering their agenda successfully. The decision to suspend me will not deter my fight against corruption, family politics, the development of North Karnataka, and Hindutva."
Yatnal was informed of his expulsion through a letter signed by Om Pathak, secretary of the BJP disciplinary panel. The letter stated: “The Central Disciplinary Committee of the party has considered your response to the show-cause notice dated February 10, 2025, and has taken serious note of your repeated violations of party discipline, despite your assurances of good behaviour and conduct."
Yatnal, the face of rebellion within Karnataka BJP against Yediyurappa and Vijayendra, has faced show-cause notices before. In February 2025, he was served a notice for defying party discipline—his second one after a December 2024 notice over his public allegations against Vijayendra, whom he accused of “corruption" and “adjustment politics".
He was previously expelled from the BJP in December 2015 for ‘anti-party activities’ after refusing to withdraw his nomination as a rebel candidate from the Vijayapura double-member constituency for the legislative council elections. He had also been expelled in May 2009 after openly criticising then CM BS Yediyurappa’s style of functioning.
With his latest expulsion, Yatnal has been removed from the party’s primary membership and all party positions with immediate effect. His immediate response: “Will continue to fight."
“This is not just about Yediyurappa and Vijayendra. The decision is a message to all—either follow the party’s rules or fall out," said a senior leader on condition of anonymity.
Yatnal, the MLA from Vijayapura (formerly Bijapur), has long been a thorn in the side of Yediyurappa and now his son, Vijayendra.
A former Union minister and a fiery leader from North Karnataka, Yatnal has built his political identity by challenging the party’s top brass, questioning leadership decisions, and stirring controversy at every turn.
A vocal critic of the Yediyurappa-Vijayendra duo, he has repeatedly accused the former CM of neglecting North Karnataka, allowing his son to run a “parallel administration", and straying from the ideological path of the BJP, RSS, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He relentlessly attacked Yediyurappa during his tenure and has now turned his fire on Vijayendra, questioning his leadership as state BJP president.
Known as a “hot-head" within the BJP, Yatnal has had frequent run-ins with the party leadership and has rarely maintained a smooth relationship with the top brass in recent years.
In 2009, struggling to regain his political footing after his expulsion, Yatnal joined the JD(S) in January 2010, hoping for a comeback. However, his pro-Hindutva stance clashed with the party’s ideology at the time, leading to his exit in October 2013 after losing the assembly election from the Vijayapura City constituency.
Yatnal’s influence stems from his strong backing within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has allowed him to openly challenge Yediyurappa without immediate consequences. He also represents the powerful Panchamasali Lingayat community, a key subsect of the Lingayats, who form a crucial vote bank for the BJP. This has made any disciplinary action against him a politically sensitive issue.
“Let’s not get distracted by such developments. We need to focus on bringing the BJP back to power in the state. This isn’t about Yatnal versus the Yediyurappa family—any leader, big or small, who does not fall in line with party rules will face action. The goal is to build a strong, undefeated party," said a senior party leader from coastal Karnataka.
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