BIJAPUR: Senior member of the Bijapur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vithal Katakdonda has been appointed president of the party's district unit, much to the chagrin of members of the faction headed by Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, MP. Mr. Katakdonda succeeds S.K. Bellubbi, former MLA.

The new president, who had unsuccessfully contested for the last two elections in the Ballolli (Reserve) Legislative Assembly segment, had been a Dalit face of the party in the district for many years. Prior to his appointment as president, he had been the General Secretary of the district unit. Except for Mr. Yatnal, most of the party's district unit leaders, including Minister for Textiles Appasaheb Pattanashetti, had favoured Mr. Katakdonda's candidature. Mr. Katakdonda, who had once been Mr. Yatnal's confidante, fell apart with him during the last Legislative Assembly election. He had played a key role in the setting up of the Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Ltd., a sugar factory at Hirebevanur in Indi taluk, along with Mr. Yatnal five years ago. However, following his differences with Mr. Yatnal, he had been removed from the factory's board of directors. Mr. Katakdonda is the third of Mr. Yatnal's foes to be given a key post in the party, after Mr. Pattanashetti and Mahila Morcha leader Mangaladevi Biradar. Ms. Biradar was made Chairperson of the State Literacy Mission recently.

Mr. Bellubbi had been keen to continue as president, but his claim had been rejected on the ground that he had already served two terms. Also, the party leadership had been unhappy with his allegedly passive style of functioning. He had also reportedly remained silent when Mr. Yatnal had waged an open war against Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa last year, party sources said.

General Secretary of the party's district unit Shivanand Kallur had been another strong contender for the post. However, according to sources in the party, his candidature had been shot down primarily because he is a close associate of Mr. Yatnal.

The only serious complaint against Mr. Katakdonda is that he is closely associated with Shivanand Patil, Congress MLA from Basavanabagewadi, who is one of the directors of the sugar factory. Mr. Patil, who had been a BJP MLA before he joined the Congress just before the last Legislative Assembly election, was trying to take control of the sugar factory, and Mr. Katakdonda was supporting his claim, sources said.

They said he had been advised not to associate with the Congress MLA, even if it was with regard to the factory, as it would send wrong signals to the party cadre.

Mr. Katakdonda is expected to assume office on April 6, the party's foundation day.

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