Bengaluru, May 8 (Bureau) Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel has said a notice would be served on party MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal seeking explanation for his “Rs 2,500 crore for CM post” remarks. Yatnal, however, has picked up the gauntlet and replied in the affirmative saying that he is ready to face the central party’s disciplinary committee if summoned. Speaking to reporters, Kateel on Saturday said he is unaware in what context Yatnal had made those comments, but the party’s state disciplinary committee has sent a report to the central party disciplinary committee. “We will take the next step based on the central committee’s decision on the matter,” he said. The issue came to such a pass after the pitch for disciplinary action against Yatnal by Karnataka partymen mounted. “The State BJP President (Kateel) has made it clear that I have not targeted the party in my statements. If they serve me a notice this time, I will appear before the disciplinary committee,” Yatnal said. He also blamed the media for hyping a general statement, claiming that it was twisted intentionally as a cabinet rejig was around the corner. “A section of partymen do not want to see me as a minister because they are afraid if I am made one, I will use bulldozers to silence them,” the former union minister said.
Yatnal clarified that in his speech nowhere did he say that the party’s central leadership demanded money to make him chief minister. “Many people had approached me through WhatsApp claiming that they are close to PM Narendra Modi, Congress High Command Sonia Gandhi and JDS Supremo HD Deve Gowda. They told me that if I get them the needed money, they would refer my name for the CM’s post. I took them to task. Nowhere did I say the party leadership demanded money,” he said. Yatnal said Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar fears that his political career will come to a stop if he becomes chief minister. Addressing a function, Yatnal on Thursday had said some people from Delhi had come to him with an offer to make him the chief minister if he paid Rs 2,500 crore. The remark triggered a debate in political circles with the Congress leaders including LoP Siddaramaiah demanding a probe into it.