Karnataka: BJP Rules Out Leadership Change After CM Basavaraj Bommai’s Speech Fuels Exit Rumours

BJP’s Karnataka unit chief Nalin Kateel has called the talks of leadership change, a conspiracy. He also raised suspicion of the Congress party’s involvement in spreading the rumours.

File Photo: PTI

New Delhi: After speculation over Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s exit, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP’s Karnataka unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel ruled out leadership change in the state, saying that CM Bommai would continue till the next election in 2023.

“Bommai is going to be the Chief Minister till the next election, which is 2023. There is no leadership change,” Nalin Kateel told the media in Bengaluru, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The Karnataka Chief Minister is set to complete five months in office in the next couple of days. However, a recent emotional speech delivered by him in his home town Shiggaon had fuelled speculation of his exit.

Clarifying the matter, BJP’s Karnataka unit chief Nalin Kateel has called these talks of leadership change, a conspiracy.

He said that when senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa became the chief minister, speculations started about his exit but he remained in power for two years.

“This news (about Bommai’s exit) is a figment of imagination. I feel this is a conspiracy to create confusion, problem in the state politics and to defame the BJP government,” Nalin Kateel said.

He also raised suspicion of the Congress party’s involvement in spreading the rumours.

CM Basavaraj Bommai was reported to be suffering from a knee-related problem, for which it was said may undergo treatment abroad.

BJP’s Karnataka unit chief ruled it out again: “He is not going abroad. There is nothing wrong with his health but only some leg-related issues for which he is getting treatment. He is healthy. His leg related problem will be cured here only”.

The Karnataka Chief Minister has also clarified about going abroad saying that the programme he was supposed to attend in Davos has been postponed.

“I was supposed to attend a programme in Davos, which has been postponed. As a result, my foreign trip is cancelled,” CM Bommai told reporters in Hubballi, as quoted by PTI.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi too dismissed the speculation about a change of guard, as he said: “I have made it clear several times that Basavaraj Bommai will remain as Chief Minister till 2023 and under his leadership, the government is performing well and bringing good name”.

He stressed that it was wrong to spread such news as there was no issue of leadership change.

“There is no leadership change. I am always in touch with our national-level leaders regularly and I have good relationship with them. If such was the case, then certainly I would have come to know. There is no such proposal. He is doing a good job,” the union minister added.

Even on cabinet rejig, Pralhad Joshi said that there were no such discussions happening at the state and national level as of now. 

Karnataka CM’s Speech That Fuelled Exit Rumours

 Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai had recently fuelled speculation about possible exit as he said nothing is permanent in this world including posts and positions.

“Nothing is eternal in this world. This life itself is not forever. We don't know how long we will be here in such a situation, these posts and positions are also not forever. I am aware of this fact every moment,” he said in an emotional address to the people of his constituency Shiggaon in Haveri district.

In an expression of gratitude to the people of his constituency, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai had said that he is only ‘Basavaraj’ for them and not the Chief Minister.

“I have always been saying that outside this place (Shiggaon) I was Home Minister and Irrigation Minister in the past, but once I was in, I remained just ‘Basavaraj’ for you all. Today as a Chief Minister I am saying that once I come to Shiggaon, I may be Chief Minister outside but amongst you, I will remain as the same Basavaraj Bommai because the name Basavaraj is permanent and not the posts,” he had said, as quoted by PTI.

Basavaraj Bommai took over as Chief Minister on July 28 after BS Yediyurappa resigned on the day he completed two years in office.

(With Agency Inputs)