Karnataka MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal trained his guns at Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday and said, "In Bijapur district, we are competent to become the CM [chief minister]. We don't have land grab, corruption allegations."
"Why shouldn't I be a CM aspirant?" Basangouda Patil Yatnal asked.
Drawing a comparison with the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, Basangouda Patil Yatnal said, "Many are competent to become CM [chief minister]. See how Yogi in Uttar Pradesh is giving good governance. Goonda raj stopped there. In Karnataka also, we will give such a government. If the party allows me, I'll get 150 seats."
Yatnal, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA from Vijayapura, has been critical of Yediyurappa over the past several months.
BJP General Secretary in-charge Arun Singh had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Yatnal and asked him not to cross his boundaries. However, Yatnal stood his ground and said he's only fighting against corruption.
Sources in the BJP said Yatnal is daydreaming of becoming the chief minister.
"The BJP will never encourage someone like him if he's speaking in public, he's now turning out to be a loose cannon in the party and there might be action against him," sources said.
Basangouda Yatnal had earlier claimed that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will not hold the post for long.
"We received a grant of Rs 125 crore, but the CM only took it. It started a fight between us. He does everything for Shivamogga. Even former minister Umesh Katti has noticed that. He has also said he is the CM for Shivamogga. He (Yediyurappa) won't be here for long. Even the high command is fed up," Basangouda Yatnal, BJP MLA in Vijayapura had said.