Bengaluru: Shikaripura MLA and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s son B.Y. Vijayendra formally assumed charge as State BJP President at the Party Office in Malleswaram this morning.

Vijayendra, accompanied by his father Yediyurappa, outgoing party President and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and several other leaders, took part in the poornahuti of Ganapati homa and Gowri homa conducted at party office, before taking charge of his new role.

Addressing the party workers, Vijayendra gave a clarion call to put up a good show in the forthcoming Lok Sabha (LS) polls by sweeping all the 28 seats in the State and give a fitting reply to ruling Congress party.

“Along with LS polls, we should also ensure a good performance in Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) polls and next Assembly elections too,” he added.

“Congress came to power by branding previous BJP Government as ‘40% Commission Government’, but now Congress is in power and has been in news for the last six months only for wrong reasons due to unabated corruption”, he alleged.

He also clarified that he will not resort to ‘Operation Kamala’ to poach rival party MLAs to party-fold as Congress MLAs themselves will teach a lesson to their own party’s Government for the pathetic situation they are in, for not getting allocated even a rupee fund from the Government.

Acknowledging the blessings of BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh on being considered for the top post, Vijayendra thanked all of them for having faith in his ability to steer the party.

Outgoing State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel, who thanked the leaders for extending their cooperation while in office, also appealed to them to continue to support his successor B.Y. Vijayendra.

Former Deputy Chief Ministers K.S. Eshwarappa, Govind Karjol and Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, State BJP General Secretary (Organisation) G.V. Rajesh, former Chairman of Legislative Council D.H. Shankaramurthy, former Minister Ramachandra Gowda and others were present.