Former Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda (extreme left) and BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra (second from left).
| Photo Credit: File photo
An audio clip purportedly of senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda asking the party to wait till State president B.Y. Vijayendra completes his term in November before “kicking him out” went viral on Monday (June 29), causing a stir in the party. It drew sharp reactions from Mr. Vijayendra’s camp, even as it yet again exposed factionalism within the State BJP.
The audio clip, which Mr. Gowda said was fake, comes amidst speculations that the party high command may opt for a revamp of the party’s State leadership, unhappy over the state of affairs of the party’s Karnataka unit, especially after cross-voting in the recently held Legislative Council polls.
Mr. Gowda said he would not comment on the audio since it was not his, adding that he would answer only if the high command asked him about it. Speaking to media persons on Monday (June 29), he also lamented how internal party affairs were being discussed in the public.
What was said?
In the audio clip, a man, purported to be Mr. Gowda, is heard saying to another man referred to as “Pradeep ji” that the party should wait for Mr. Vijayendra’s term as State president to end.
“He completes his three-year term by November. Why should we create another confusion now? If we wait for another two months, his term will also be over and no one can complain against the removal of the president…. In October, kick him out,” the man purported to be Mr. Gowda is heard saying.
As the audio clip went viral, former Minister M.P. Renukacharya, a close associate of Mr. Vijayendra and his father and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, hit back at Mr. Gowda.
‘Will not tolerate’
“We will not tolerate such a conspiracy against Mr. Vijayendra. We will have to raise our voices openly. He (Sadananda Gowda) became the Chief Minister because of the sacrifice of Mr. Yediyurappa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have entrusted this responsibility to Mr. Vijayendra and under him, the party has become strong,” he said. He further alleged that those who opposed Mr. Vijayendra cross-voted in the Council polls.
Meanwhile, Mr. Vijayendra himself did not respond to the issue.
Published – June 29, 2026 07:45 pm IST
