KSE to remain BJP chief till Dec

The BJP central leaders on Friday decided to continue K S Eshwarappa as the president of the Karnataka unit of the party till December. Senior leader Arun Jaitley will visit Bangalore next week to hold talks with a belligerent leader B S Yeddyurappa.

Party’s Karnataka core committee meeting, which was also attended by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, decided to allow Eshwarappa to continue in the post till his two-year term ends on December 31, sources in the party said. Party national president Nitin Gadkari attended the meeting briefly. It was also decided to go for complete reshuffle of the organisation early next year before the Assembly poll.

Though Deputy Chief Minister Eshwarappa requested the high command to relieve him from the post citing overwork, the party leaders asked him to continue till his term ended. The meeting was also attended by party National General Secretary Ananth Kumar, Eshwarappa and others. The leaders were asked not to react to Yeddyurappa’s ‘provocative statements.’

Despite the party ruling out making Yeddyurappa as the State unite president, Jaitley, who will be in Bangalore on a private visit on October 2, will meet the Lingayat leader to pacify him. The party also allowed the chief minister to take a decision on reallocation of portfolio soon.