Election for Karnataka BJP chief post soon, says Chouhan

Bengaluru: An election will be held soon for the post of Karnataka BJP president, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday, a day after the incumbent B Y Vijayendra expressed confidence of remaining at the helm.

Chouhan is in charge of the BJP’s organisational elections in Karnataka.

“After a definite number of districts have had elections, the state-level election will be held. Soon, election for the post of the state president will be held,” Chouhan said.

Chouhan’s statement also comes a day after a parallel BJP team discussed viable candidates who can be fielded against Vijayendra by forcing the saffron party’s top brass to elect a new president through a ballot.

When asked if a new president will be elected or nominated, Chouhan said: “BJP is the only party where elections are held at every level. Even our booth committees are elected. It’s another thing that in some places, the president is elected unanimously. What’s wrong if it is unanimous?”

Vijayendra was appointed as the Karnataka BJP president in November 2023. The term of the state president is three years. Vijayendra’s elevation caused heartburn in the BJP and the Shikaripura MLA has been unable to douse the fire.

Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the face of the parallel BJP team, claimed recently that Vijayendra was a “temporary” president.

To this, Vijayendra told DH recently: “The BJP’s organisational elections will be completed by February-end. The answer will be known to all by then. My future plan is to lead the party to victory with a decisive mandate in the next Assembly polls.”