BJP makes Yeddyurappa''s son BJYM gen secy after ticket denial

Bengaluru, April 24

The Bharatiya Janata Party appointed state unit chief BS Yeddyurappa's son BY Vijayendra as its youth wing general secretary today, a day after protests erupted over denial of party ticket to him for the May 12 assembly polls.

Vijayendra's appointment as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha  (BJYM) general secretary was announced by Union minister Prakash Javadekar, who is also in charge of the BJP's Karnataka unit.

The announcement, made at a press meet, came a day after Vijayendra's supporters staged angry protests, entailing police lathicharge, over denial of party ticket to him to contest from Varuna constituency in Mysuru.

Political observers saw it as a damage control move to douse dissidence and its likely effect in and around Mysuru in south Karnataka.

Javadekar said: "The next chief minister of Karnataka made a historic announcement yesterday. The whole party is with him. To see that Vijayendra works in the entire region, we are giving him an additional responsibility. He will be the new general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha".         

 In a surprise announcement, Yeddyurappa said on Monday that his son would not contest from Varuna constituency against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son Yatindra. He gave no reason for the decision.

Yeddyurappa's announcement led to vandalism by supporters of Vijayendra, who raised slogans against party chief Amit Shah.

Vijayendra had tried to calm his supporters and tweeted saying he wholeheartedly stood by and supported the party's decision “in all circumstances”.              

For the past month, Vijayendra was working at the grass-root level in Varuna since Siddaramaiah decided to field his son from his own bastion. PTI