Honest, pro-Hindu leader to replace CM BS Yediyurappa: Yatnal

Vijayapur: BJP leader Basavaraj Patil Yatnal said that the central leadership will soon pick a new Chief Minister for Karnataka who is “honest and pro-Hindu” to replace BS Yediyurappa.

This comes after an audio clip purportedly of Karnataka BJP chief Nalinkumar Kateel speaking of a change in state leadership went viral on social media. Kateel, however, denied any association with the clip.

Speaking to the reporters, Yatnal said, “I am not in any race. The PM will pick a leader who is honest, pro-Hindu, and capable of bringing the party to power in the next polls as CM.”

Yatnal further said that a BJP leader was making trips to New Delhi, with a demand that he be made Chief Minister. “He has also tried to bribe the party’s central leadership. The party leadership is very honest and they will not tolerate such things,” he said.

Talking about the viral audio clip, Yatnal said, ” If Kateel is saying that the audio is fake, then we must believe him. Also, everyone makes some statements within their close circle of friends. That is not an offence. We should try and find out which person recorded such statements and shared them on social media. The crime branch police do not investigate such serious issues. They waste their time solving minor crimes.”

“B.Y. Vijayendra, son of Yediyurappa, has many friends in the Police Department. How did he not come to know about the existence of such a clip?” he questioned.