The Karnataka minister said that the Congress is spreading misinformation to hide its internal rift. (file)
Bangalore:
Accusing the opposition Congress of unnecessarily raising the issue of replacement of Karnataka Chief Minister, senior BJP leader and Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday called for its Chief Minister for the 2023 Assembly elections. Challenged the old party to name the candidate.
Dismissing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s replacement, he said the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have already said that the election will be under Mr Bommai’s leadership and the party will follow suit.
The minister was reacting to a series of tweets from the Congress on Tuesday on speculation of replacing Chief Minister Bommai and even calling him a “puppet chief minister”.
To hide its internal strife on the streets, Congress is spreading false news that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be removed, he said. Congress has no base in the country, what right do they have to speak about BJP’s leadership and chief minister’s change. Said Mr Ashok.
Talking to reporters, he said, “Congress has not been able to appoint its party’s national president and today BJP is talking about changing the chief minister in the government.”
“Did Amit Shah or the PM tell you (about the CM change)? Things have gone bad within your own party. Your infighting, clear it first….. Neither the CM will change nor the BJP’s State President Nalin Kumar Kateel will be replaced, we will fight the elections under his leadership.”
In recent days, discussions have been going on within the state BJP, including at the top level, especially after Amit Shah’s recent visit to the state.
Ashok further challenged the Congress and said, “Our chief minister is Basavaraj Bommai, if you have guts, courage and morality, will you be able to tell who is your chief ministerial candidate? Ask yourself about it, you don’t have guts.” have to announce, but you want to speak about others.”
He also said that Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are afraid of breaking the Congress if they make such announcements in the Congress.
Mr Ashok said the internal rift between Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah, Mr Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara and MB Patil has come to the fore after the 75th birthday celebrations of Siddaramaiah at Davangere. He said that to counter Siddaramaiah’s programme, Mr. Shivakumar is organizing a march in the name of 75th Independence Day to prove his mettle.
“It has also come to our notice that local Congress leaders have held a meeting expressing displeasure over Siddaramaiah’s birthday programme,” he said, adding that instead of going to the flood-affected areas, Congress leaders are involved in such things.
The recent statement of former BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda indicating some changes that the high command will call for changing the chief minister and other matters in the interest of the party and winning elections in future, had added to the speculation.
However, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel rejected this saying Mr Bommai would complete his term.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)