Basannagouda Patil Yatnal Threatens to Launch ‘Hindu Party’ with Bulldozer Symbol, Demands End to Dynasty Rule in Karnataka BJP

Bengaluru: Former Union Minister and expelled BJP leader Basannagouda Patil Yatnal has issued a dramatic ultimatum to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): end dynasty politics in Karnataka or face the rise of a new political force — the Hindu Party.

Speaking after being booked for his inflammatory speech in Maddur, Yatnal declared, “The party (BJP) should act now and take me back unconditionally. The dynastic rule within BJP must end, and I should be given responsibility for the party. Protecting Hindu interests is very important — Hindus are not free even to celebrate festivals in Karnataka.”

Yatnal revealed plans to join hands with other sidelined leaders, including former Mysuru MP Prathap Simha, to form the new outfit. “The party will be called Hindu Party, and its symbol will be a bulldozer,” he announced.

A firebrand Hindutva leader from Vijayapura district and a prominent Lingayat face, Yatnal served as a Union Minister in the Vajpayee government. However, he was expelled from BJP for his relentless attacks on former Karnataka CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, whom he accused of corruption and dynasty promotion by pushing his sons B.Y. Raghavendra and B.Y. Vijayendra into politics. Yatnal was also the first leader to oppose Vijayendra’s appointment as BJP state president.

The BJP in Karnataka has long been divided between pro- and anti-Yeddyurappa camps, with Yatnal openly spearheading opposition. Despite repeated warnings from Delhi, factional fights escalated, eventually leading to Yatnal’s expulsion, while the Yeddyurappa camp was only cautioned.

Refusing to ally with Congress or JD(S), Yatnal has been mobilizing crowds across the state on his own, especially after recent communal flashpoints in Maddur, Shivamogga, and Chikmagalur. His aggressive push for a Hindutva-driven political alternative has sparked speculation about a major shake-up in Karnataka’s political landscape.