BJP drops CT Ravi as national secretary: Speculations grow over his candidature for Karnataka unit chief

BL Santosh continued to be the national secretary (organisation), making him the only leader from Karnataka to be part of the saffron cadre’s central office-bearers’ team.

Though Ravi has been dropped as the national general secretary, speculations are rife that he is likely to succeed Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel as the Karnataka BJP president.

Ravi was the in-charge of Maharashtra, Goa, and Tamil Nadu for the party.

The BJP central leadership is likely to call for a legislature party meeting soon to decide the opposition leader for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and state party president, claimed sources in the party.

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‘Not an aspirant’

Amidst the rumours that four-time MLA Ravi, who belongs to the influential Vokkaliga community, was likely to head the BJP’s Karnataka unit, he asserted that he was not an aspirant for the post.

The term of Nalin Kumar Kateel as the state party president ended in August 2022. However, he was given an extension owing to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls.

Heartiest Congratulations to my distinguished colleagues on being appointed to various positions in the BJP.

I am highly confident that each one of them will work towards further strengthening our organisation under the leadership and guidance of our National President Shri… https://t.co/3TO9pCRAMS

— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) July 29, 2023

Ravi told reporters: “I have no ambition to become the state president of BJP. The position of state president carries significant responsibilities. I clarified that it is not about seeking a position but about the party deciding for me.”

He added: “I am a loyal worker of the party, and I am sure my energies will be utilised to strengthen the party. I have not asked for any position.”

On being dropped as the secretary, Ravi pointed out: “Any position or authority in the party is not permanent. I started working as the booth president 35 years ago and worked in various roles within the party.”

He added: “I have worked in many positions offered by the party and involved in politics for many years. I served as the national chief secretary for two years and 10 months. Now, I am the former national general secretary.”

He was appointed as the national general secretary in September 2020. He held the Kannada and Culture portfolio in the BS Yediyurappa government and resigned to carry out his party responsibilities.

In the recently concluded Assembly polls, Ravi lost against the Congress’ HD Thammaiah from the Chikkamagaluru Assembly segment, which he had represented for four consecutive terms.

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BJP yet to fill key posts

Even nearly three months after the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, the BJP high command is yet to appoint the Leader of the Opposition and state president for its Karnataka unit.

In the history of Karnataka politics, this is the first time the budget session was concluded without an Opposition leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The BJP managed to win only 66 seats in the recently concluded assembly polls and was placed in the Opposition. However, there are no signs of high command deciding on the leader of the opposition.

BJP state general secretary and MLC N Ravikumar told South First: “The party was busy in finalising the office-bearers for its central team as the general elections are nearing.”

He added: “The central leadership is likely to call for the legislature party meeting and state office-bearers meeting to decide on the opposition leader and state president.”

Ravi also said that the appointment for both posts was likely to happen in a week or two.

On whether the party shortlisted any candidates for the Opposition leader and state president, he said: “The party has not yet finalised the names. However, a few names are making rounds for both posts. The high command will announce the names at the earliest.”

However, the dates for the legislature party meeting were yet to be announced.

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“The party is likely to consider leaders from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities for the Opposition leader and state president respectively,” claimed sources in the party.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Rajajinagar MLA Suresh Kumar, Malleswaram MLA CN Ashwath Narayan, and Padmanabanagar MLA R Ashok are frontrunners of the post of the Opposition leader.

CT Ravi, Sunil Kumar, and R Ashok are in the race for the state president post.