'Bommai to continue as CM': BJP leaders rebuff leadership change speculation

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh on Tuesday said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will not be removed, dubbing questions on change in leadership “hypothetical”.

Singh was responding to speculation that Bommai may be replaced as part of a full-fledged rejig ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.

“Hypothetical questions won’t have an answer,” Singh, who manages the BJP’s affairs in Karnataka, said when asked about change in leadership. “Bommai is a common man. People like him for the way he's working for the poor and farmers under PM Modi’s leadership,” he said.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka seconded Singh. “Nobody should dream about this. There’s no question of the CM getting changed,” he said, adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already announced that Bommai would lead the BJP into the next election. “Bommai has the blessings of the top brass,” Ashoka added.

Also Read — ‘New faces’: Fresh buzz in Karnataka BJP on leadership change

Murmurs that Bommai may be changed came to the fore after BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh, at a party meeting in Mysuru last week, said changes become necessary to infuse freshness. This plunged the BJP into confusion as party circles began speculating of a Gujarat-like “wholesale” change, including a new Chief Minister.

Santhosh’s statement came just days before Amit Shah’s arrival in Bengaluru, his second visit in about a month’s time.

On Tuesday, two former BJP chief ministers had different things to say on the issue. “There's no such news. It's just speculation,” B S Yediyurappa told reporters whereas Jagadish Shettar said: “I don’t want to discuss this.”

Speculation is also rife on expansion or reshuffle of Bommai’s Cabinet. “I am confident that Cabinet expansion will definitely happen in 2-3 days,” Yediyurappa said. “Shah has come here with a final decision on that. So, he may announce it here or go back to Delhi for a discussion with PM Modi,” he said.

Bommai has five positions vacant in his Cabinet.

President Nalin Kumar Kateel, ruled out Bommai's exit.

Terming the speculation of leadership change as "hypothetical", Singh said Bommai is a "common man" and people here like him. Yediyurappa, who was replaced by Bommai in July last year, too said there are no such talks about leadership change and what is going on are mere "speculations".

Kateel said there is no confusion in the party on the leadership issue, and BJP will go to the polls together as a team, under the leadership of Bommai and Yediyurappa's guidance.

However, Bijapur City BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said the high command is thinking of big changes to make government more effective, speed up development, and to tackle corruption allegations. "It may happen before May 10." It may be noted that Yatnal, a known Yediyurappa critic was among the first to predict the state BJP strongman's exit from the CM post.

The fresh round of speculation about leadership change in the state, was following BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh's statement on Sunday that the party's strength lies in the induction of new faces.

Amid murmurs in the party circles that a top-to-bottom overhaul of the cabinet cannot be ruled out, state BJP functionaries are hopeful that a decision is likely soon regarding cabinet expansion or reshuffle, amid talks that several incumbents could make way for fresh 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 this visit.

There are currently five positions vacant in the state cabinet, which has 29 ministers, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34.

(With agency inputs)

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