Bengaluru, 07 Nov (H.S.): Dissident leaders in the Karnataka BJP have renewed their campaign against state party president B.Y. Vijayendra, approaching newly appointed state in-charge Harish Dwivedi with complaints over the functioning of the party and demanding a change in leadership ahead of the next Assembly elections.

The fresh developments have brought internal differences within the state BJP back into focus after several weeks of relative calm.

According to party sources, a delegation of dissident leaders met Dwivedi during his visit to Karnataka and submitted a detailed account of organisational issues, particularly those concerning Vijayendra's leadership.

The delegation included former MPs G.M. Siddeshwara and Bhagwanth Khuba, former MLA Aravind Limbavali and BJP leader B.P. Harish.

Sources said the leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the present organisational structure and urged the central leadership to appoint a new state president to strengthen the party's prospects in the next Assembly elections.

Dwivedi, who recently assumed responsibility for Karnataka BJP affairs, has already held discussions with several senior leaders, including former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai. He has also interacted with other state-level functionaries to assess the party's organisational situation.

The renewed dissident activity assumes significance as Vijayendra's current tenure as state BJP president is scheduled to end on November 15.

However, the party's central leadership has not indicated whether he will be retained or replaced.

The dissidents reportedly believe that a leadership change would help resolve internal differences, improve coordination among senior leaders and strengthen the BJP's organisational machinery across Karnataka.

With the next Assembly elections approaching, the developments could pose a fresh challenge to Vijayendra, whose leadership has faced criticism from sections of the party.

The BJP central leadership's response to the dissidents' demands is now being closely watched by party leaders across the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman