Yatnal Alleges Shivakumar Secretly Sought BJP Support

In a sensational claim, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of secretly negotiating with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to defect with 60-70 Congress MLAs in a bid to become Chief Minister. Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Yatnal alleged that Shivakumar met BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra in New Delhi to discuss a power-sharing arrangement, including the possibility of Shivakumar assuming the Chief Minister’s role and Vijayendra serving as Deputy Chief Minister.

Yatnal, a vocal critic of both Shivakumar and the BJP’s state leadership, claimed the plan fell through due to insufficient support from Congress MLAs. “Shivakumar has kept one leg towards the BJP,” Yatnal said, dismissing Shivakumar’s recent singing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly as a “drama” to curry favor with the BJP. He further alleged that a BJP high command leader confirmed Shivakumar lacked the backing of even 12-13 MLAs, with most Congress legislators remaining loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumar, also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, brushed off the allegations, refusing to engage directly. “I don’t want to throw stones at garbage or cow dung,” he told reporters in Bengaluru, signaling his intent to avoid a public spat with Yatnal.

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The former BJP MLA, who was expelled from the party in March 2025 for repeated indiscipline, including public criticism of BJP veteran B.S. Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra, doubled down on his accusations. He claimed the alleged Shivakumar-Vijayendra alliance would have been disastrous for Karnataka, accusing both of being “corrupt” and warning that their collaboration would “sell” the state. Yatnal further alleged that Siddaramaiah’s policies, while favoring certain communities, were less harmful than the potential fallout from Shivakumar’s leadership.

Yatnal’s remarks add fuel to Karnataka’s already volatile political landscape, where he has consistently accused Vijayendra of “adjustment politics” with the Congress, a charge that has deepened internal rifts within the BJP. His expulsion followed a series of public attacks on the Yediyurappa family and a month-long anti-Waqf march that lacked state unit approval. Despite his ouster, Yatnal remains defiant, hinting at a potential new political journey while rejecting any possibility of joining the Congress.

The allegations come amid heightened tensions within both parties, with the Congress grappling with internal leadership struggles and the BJP facing factionalism. Yatnal’s claims, though unverified, have sparked speculation about backroom political maneuvering, raising questions about Shivakumar’s ambitions and the BJP’s internal dynamics. As Karnataka’s political drama unfolds, these accusations are likely to intensify debates over loyalty, power, and governance in the state.

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