Karnataka: Yediyurappa breaks BJP convention; son Vijayendra to contest from home turf

Karnataka BJP leader BS Yediyurappa with son BY Vijayendra. File photo. (Supplied)

“I appeal to the people of Shikaripura to ensure his victory with a margin bigger than mine,” Yediyurappa told reporters on Friday.

“There is a lot of demand for him to contest from the old Mysuru region, but since I am vacating the seat, he will contest from Shikaripura,” added the Lingayat leader.

The statement comes at a time the BJP has been accused of sidelining him.

Yediyurappa’s announcement is in stark contrast to the party convention where candidates are announced only by BJP office-bearers.

Yediyurappa is the incumbent legislator from Shikaripura, and has won eight times from the Assembly constituency.

The only time he lost from Shikaripura was in 1999.

What is also noteworthy is Yediyurappa declaring that Vijayendra would be a candidate from Shikaripura, but not mentioning that he would be contesting on a BJP ticket.

The 79-year-old Lingayat strongman was forced by the BJP’s central leadership to step down from the chief minister’s chair last year.

Since then, Yediyurappa has been treated coldly by the BJP, according to observers both within and outside the party.

During the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election, Yediyurappa’s second son BY Vijayendra was preparing to contest from Mysuru’s Varuna constituency.

In a last-minute decision, the party decided not to give VIjayendra a ticket to contest, citing its stance against nepotism.

Vijayendra, currently the vice-president of the BJP in Karnataka, has been working on prepping for his electoral debut over the last five years.