Bengaluru (Agency): The race for the post of BJP’s Karnataka unit President has commenced, with various factions vying for the position. However, the party’s high command is exercising caution in the wake of the recent Assembly elections defeat.
Incumbent Nalin Kumar Kateel, who had previously announced his resignation during a party workers’ meet in Ballary, has now retracted his decision. Although discussions on finding his replacement had begun, Kateel now denies ever speaking about quitting.
Apart from appointing a new state unit chief, the party also needs to finalize the Leader of the Opposition before the Assembly session commences in the first week of July.
Several contenders, including former ministers R. Ashoka and C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje, and national General Secretary C.T. Ravi from the Vokkaliga community, are vying for the state chief’s post.
The statement made by former minister V. Somanna, a member of the Lingayat community, regarding the state President’s position has triggered a debate within the party. BJP MLAs Basangouda Patil Yatnal and B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, are also actively lobbying for the coveted role.
Sources reveal that the camps of Yediyurappa and his rival groups, led by BJP’s General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santhosh, are engaged in a behind-the-scenes battle, each supporting candidates from their respective factions.
It is believed that Somanna’s public claim for the party President’s post was aimed at undermining Vijayendra’s chances of securing a top position. Somanna stated that Yediyurappa had not contacted him even once following his defeat against CM Siddaramaiah.
The Yediyurappa camp is advocating for Ashoka, Suresh Kumar, and Vijayendra, representing the Vokkaliga, Brahmin, and Lingayat communities, respectively.
On the other hand, the Santosh camp is pushing for Ravi and Ashwath Narayan from the Vokkaliga community, Somanna and Yatnal from the Lingayat community, and Sunil Kumar from the OBC group. Former minister V. Sunil Kumar, a favorite of the Sangh Parivar, is also being considered.
Amidst these developments, former CM Basavaraj Bommai is utilizing his political connections within the party high command to strategize securing the Leader of the Opposition post.
