Recent months for Mr Bommai have allowed critics to charge that he has lost his grip on the state.
Bangalore:
A Karnataka minister’s remarks, leaked to the press, caused fresh embarrassment to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who today confirmed that the comments are authentic but out of context.
Karnataka Law Minister JC Madhuswamy can be heard saying in the audio clip, “We are not running the government, we are managing it.”
The remarks come amid speculation that Mr Bommai, 62, will be replaced by the BJP in the mid-term due to growing dissatisfaction with his rule. Two days ago, however, a senior leader said the BJP would seek another term – elections are due next year – with Mr Bommai in charge too much. This assurance was issued by BS Yediyurappa, who chose Mr Bommai as his replacement after he stepped down in 2021.
Mr Yediyurappa claimed that party boss Amit Shah, whose recent visit to Karnataka raised talk of Mr Bommai’s possible exit, had confirmed that the chief minister was not in danger of losing his job.
“Everything is fine, there is no problem,” the chief minister said today.
But another senior minister has already demanded the resignation of the law minister. “I will talk to all concerned, and sort out the issue,” the chief minister said, adding that the damaging comments were “made in the context of demand of interest by the bank.” ,
Minister ST Somashekar in the government disagrees. “If he thinks we are managing, he should immediately step down as law minister of Karnataka. He is part of the government. He is part of every cabinet meeting and decision taken. If he made that statement It means that he is also a party to it. Being a minister, it is irresponsible for him to make such a statement.”
Recent months for Mr Bommai have allowed critics to charge that he has lost his grip on the state. Communal violence is erupting in Karnataka and a BJP worker was killed last month.
After being accused of not taking adequate action to punish the culprits, Mr Bommai said the “Yogi model” is being introduced to tackle communal violence in the state, referring to the harsh administrative practices of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. could. In July, days before a BJP worker was murdered, a Muslim teenager was murdered.