Karnataka party official Arun Singh also warned other BJP leaders in the state, such as senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, to “speak within bounds.”
BJP Secretary General and Karnataka Party Leader Arun Singh said Sunday that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will continue to hold the post until the end of his term, ending speculation of a leadership change. He warned other leaders not to call for a change and said that the central leadership of the BJP will make the decision. He also ruled out the possibility of the party forming an alliance with the JD (S).
“I have said it several times, he (Yediyurappa) is our CM, he will remain CM. Under his leadership (we are leaving) he deals with all sectors of society. He is one of the prominent leaders of the party here,” he said. Singh in response to a question about the leadership change. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, he said: “Why are you asking such hypothetical imaginary questions? I cannot answer.”
There has been intense speculation in some quarters that the BJP high command is considering a leadership change in Karnataka in the coming days considering Yediyurappa’s age. Although the state BJP had roundly rejected such speculation, it refused to be appeased, and some in the party, such as senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, believed it with their statements.
In response to a query about Yatnal’s statements, Singh said: “Any karyakarta (worker) or any leader, small or large, has to speak within the boundaries. If someone has the problem, they can come and discuss one by one why there is internal democracy in our party, but speaking in public is not good. ” Yatnal, which is the MLA of the city of Vijayapura, stated in October that Yediyurappa will not remain as Chief Minister for long and the high command decided that his successor will be from the northern region of Karnataka.
Maintaining that the cabinet expansion was the prerogative of the Chief Minister, Singh said it will happen soon. “It will happen soon; it is a prerogative of the Chief Minister. I can only say that it will happen soon,” he said in response to a question.
The expansion or reorganization of the cabinet is expected to be a tightrope walk for the Chief Minister, considering there are too many contenders, from the old guard of the party to the rebels in Congress-JD (S) who are now BJP legislators. The cabinet currently has 27 members and seven seats are still vacant.
Meanwhile, former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, on Sunday, warned the BJP and accused them of systematically stoking rumors that JD (S) would be joining the NDA. In a series of tweets, the head of the legislative party JD (S) accused the BJP of attempting to erode the party base by planting such rumors. He said the party “does not need BJP’s friendship.”
“This is the reason why BJP was trying to play the fake alliance drama. This is why you are systematically spreading imaginary news about JD (S) joining the NDA. This is absolutely untrue, “Kumaraswamy tweeted.
Stating that he shares a better bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi than many BJP state leaders and that he has respect for Prime Minister Yediyurappa’s seniority, he said that JD (S) was not intended to be an opposition party just to oppose it.
“If BJP indulges in a disinformation campaign, that bond, respect and intention will be hampered. The BJP must be careful with JD (S),” he added. Kumaraswamy’s attack came after he recently spoke of JD (S) having a “problem-based understanding” with BJP, while rejecting talks about his party’s possible merger with the party. “The BJP should understand that this is an immoral policy,” he added.
