Karnataka BJP in-charge sets aside speculations over change in party leadership

Speculations over change in Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party leadership was set aside as there was no discussion on the same during state party-in charge Arun Singh's meeting with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel clarified that there is no question of a change in party leadership.

Bengaluru: BJP national general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Arun Singh lauded Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's efforts in tackling Covid crisis and did away with the speculations over the change in party leadership. Singh was sent on a three-day visit to the state to resolve the feud within the party. He met Yediyurappa, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and ministers among others.

"We discussed the Covid situation, party organization and MLA's problems," he said. He also said nothing came up regarding replacing Yediyurappa and there was no discussion on leadership change. Further, he said ministers were instructed to focus on the complaints raised by MLAs, party workers and people. He suggested them to solve their problems. Singh was responding to media personnel at the party office in Malleshwaram after the meeting. Kateel also clarified that there is no question of a change in party leadership and it did not even surface during the meeting.

However, BJP MLC AH Vishwanath's statement after meeting Singh contradicts the all is well stance. Addressing media Vishwanath said public opinion regarding the Government and party is negative. It is not good. Commenting on Yediyurappa's age and health, he said, Yediyurappa is not in the spirit to run the government as Chief Minister. Vishwanath also said someone else needs to be appointed. Family intervention in the administration is becoming worst, added Vishwanath.

During the three-day visit, Singh is scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with the party's rebel legislators, discuss internal crisis within the party. MLAs including Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad, AS Patil Nadahalli, Kumar Bangarappa, Madal Virupakshappa, Raju Gowda, Abhay Patil, Appachu Ranjan, Preetam Gowda, Rajkumar Patil, Hartal Halappa, Sunil Kumar, Uday Garudachar, Roopali Naik, Shankar Patil, Munenakoppa, Somashekhar Reddy, Sidhu Savadi, Mahesh Kumatally, Masale Jayaram, Jyothi Ganesh, Satheesh Reddy, Rajesh Gowda, Pradeep Shettar and Rajya Sabha Member Eranna Kadadi are intended to meet Singh separately.