However, the same was denied, as Karnataka It is set to go to the assembly elections in 2023. The BJP is also under pressure for cabinet reshuffle and cabinet expansion in Karnataka, which had given hope to some senior state leaders. Failure to act on it led to mounting pressure and discontent within the ruling party over the delay.
Amit Shah and the BJP have said that they will win 150 seats for the Karnataka BJP for the 2023 assembly elections. Shah’s visit was expected to be a review and evaluation visit of the BJP for the elections and could send a strong message to the party’s leadership and office bearers.
According to party sources, their conversation was confined to select BJP leaders over lunch. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommaiofficial residence of
With his visit marking the birth anniversary of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, Shah began his day by paying floral tributes to the statue and statue of the Lingayat saint. The move is seen as an outreach to the Lingayats, an influential community that has a significant presence across the state and is perceived as a strong vote-bank of the ruling BJP ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections next year.
Many top leaders amid discussions about possible change in leadership BJP leader BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, party’s state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel along with others ruled out Bommai’s exit.
Terming the speculation about the change of leadership as “imaginary”, Singh said Bommai is a “common man” and people here like him. Yediyurappa, who was replaced by Bommai in July last year, also said that there is no such talk about change of leadership and what is happening is only “speculation”.
Kateel said there was no confusion in the party on the issue of leadership, and the BJP would fight the elections together as a team under the guidance of Bommai and Yediyurappa. However, Bijapur city BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said the high command was thinking of major changes to make the government more effective, speed up development and tackle allegations of corruption. “It could happen before May 10.”
It may be noted that Yatnal, a well-known critic of Yeddyurappa, was the first to predict that the state BJP leader would step down as CM. The latest round of speculation about the change of leadership in the state was after BJP national general secretary BL Santosh’s statement on Sunday that the party’s strength lies in inducting new faces.
Amid murmurs in party circles that cabinet top-to-bottom changes cannot be ruled out, state BJP functionaries are hopeful that a decision on cabinet expansion or reshuffle is likely to be taken soon, amid talks that Many incumbents can make way for new faces. , Bommai, who is under pressure to expand or reshuffle his cabinet at the earliest, had earlier indicated that he would try to discuss it with Shah during the visit.
Five posts are currently vacant in the state cabinet, which has 29 ministers, including the chief minister, against a sanctioned strength of 34. Some legislators are advocating for a Gujarat-like overhaul of the Karnataka cabinet soon, to make way for a new one. faces before assembly elections
Hoping for a cabinet expansion in a day or two, Yediyurappa told reporters that Shah may or may not announce the decision after holding discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders in Delhi.
Though Shah was expected to meet party functionaries, state core committee and various wing presidents of the party as per his itinerary, according to BJP sources they were canceled citing a hectic schedule. However, a select few senior party leaders accompanied Shah during lunch at Bommai’s residence.
According to sources, amid speculations about the leadership, cabinet and elections, many party leaders, MLAs and ministers, who expected any talks with Shah, were disappointed that it did not happen.
BJP MLC AH Vishwanath, who attended lunch at the CM’s residence, said, “Nothing… there was good food, Amit Shah shook hands and asked how are you? That’s it. No issue came up for discussion.”
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said, “Shah had come to attend official functions and in the meantime he had to discuss with the state leaders of the party, he met some of them over lunch.”
When asked about the cancellation of the meeting with party functionaries and leaders, he said, “…I think maybe the meeting may have been canceled due to delay in other programmes. He (Shah) did this during his last visit. Addressed the core committee during the same.
Shah had last visited the state on April 1 and participated in the state BJP core committee meeting, during which a target of 150 seats was set and ahead of the elections, leaders of other political parties would be involved and strengthened the organisation. There was discussion about doing
Shah’s visit comes amid several allegations against the state government, including 40% commission charge, resignation of senior minister KS Eshwarappa following the alleged suicide of a contractor, and an alleged scam in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors. , This also comes after the state witnessed a series of incidents of communal flare-ups in the recent past.