The BJP in Karnataka, it seems, wants some drastic changes in its state unit ahead of the Assembly polls.
Sources in the party say that, in past two weeks, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel have separately had at least three meetings each with representatives of the RSS as well as the central leadership of the BJP.
On the agenda was the hot question of leadership change.
After the back-breaking campaign in Gujarat to fight anti-incumbency, the BJP apparently wants to take a leaf out of its Gujarat playbook — changing the local leadership.
Party insiders say that while it may be too late to change the chief minister, the party is looking for a “war-time party president” to step in and take over the reins from Kateel, whose leadership skills and popularity have failed to impress leaders as well as cadres.
In August, South First had written about the frontrunners for the state BJP president’s post and it seems the search for the “war-time president” hasn’t ended for a party that is battling allegations of corruption and maladministration, and faces severe anti-incumbency as it heads into a tough election in Karnataka.
