The confusion started after Kateel said in Ballari that his term has already been completed, and the process for his replacement has started.
Published Jun 24, 2023 | 5:06 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 24, 2023 | 5:06 PM
BJP Karnataka unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel. (nalinkateel/ Twitter)
More than a month since the results of Karnataka Assembly polls — which ended in a debacle for the BJP — the unrest in the saffron party continues unabated.
With cadres demanding accountability and a change in leadership, a statement made by incumbent state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel sparked speculation of his resignation.
Kateel’s statement, taking moral responsibility for the party’s abysmal performance in the polls, was quickly construed as a public declaration that he was stepping down from the post of BJP state chief.
However, on Saturday, 24 June, Kateel dismissed the reports about his resignation as rumours that were far from the truth.
In a statement issued in Bengaluru, Kateel clarified that he has not resigned as the party state president.
During an interaction with reporters in Ballari, Kateel took moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the Assembly election last month.
Kateel, the Dakshina Kannada MP, said he has already explained to the party leaders the reasons for the rout.
The BJP lost power in the state under him as the Congress coasted to victory with 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly, while the saffron party could only muster 66 seats.
The confusion began after Kateel said that his term as state party chief was already over and that he had been asked to continue due to the Assembly election, and added: “Already, the process of my replacement has started.”
However, when reports of his “resignation” appeared in the media, he was quick to clarify: “Regarding the appointment of a new state president, the party will take the right decision at an appropriate time. However, I did not say anything about my resignation as the party state president. My statement has been misconstrued.”
His statement came a day after senior BJP leader V Somanna said he wanted to be the party’s state unit chief.
Somanna, a Lingayat strongman, was divested of his incumbent seat and forced to contest in two seats by the Central leadership of the BJP.
He lost from both seats — against Siddaramaiah in Varuna and in Chamarajanagar — and has been sulking since, holding the BJP top leadership responsible for his electoral embarrassment.
As former minister Somanna expressed his wish to become the BJP state president, saying: “I don’t have any aspirations, but my term has completed. In fact, my both terms have been completed.”
“Naturally, the state president has to be replaced because one person can be a president for two years. This time it was for three years, but I have served for four years once, as temporary president and then as a full-time president,” he added.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Friday, Somanna said that he has faced many elections in his life, and has been with the BJP for the past 15 years.
Stating that he has always taken whatever task was given to him seriously, the former minister said that for the past one-and-a-half months, he has been jobless though he has always been a person who has worked 24×7.
He said his sacrifices are more than anyone as he could have easily won the election from Govindaraj Nagar in Bengaluru but agreed to take on the tough elections from two constituencies he was not familiar with.
“Give me an opportunity. I have 45 years of political experience and I am the one who takes everyone along. Give me 100 days,” Somanna requested.
According to him, he has met everyone in this regard — right from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party national president JP Nadda, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi, and BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh.
“I have already met those whom I should have met, except for Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Somanna explained.
With regard to Somanna’s wishes, the BJP state chief Kateel said the former minister is a senior leader who has made a request and has expressed his desire.
There is nothing wrong in having aspirations, but the final decision will be taken by the BJP central leaders, he added.
(With PTI inputs)
