The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering appointing Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje as the president of its Karnataka unit, almost five months after a notable setback in the Karnataka Assembly elections. In this strategic move, the party aims to bolster its presence in the state, with CT Ravi and Vijayendra Yediyurappa also vying for the role.
Source: India Today
After enduring a substantial defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP is keen to regroup and strengthen its position in the state. Sources indicate that Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, a Vokkaliga by descent, is the frontrunner for the party’s presidency in Karnataka.
Competing alongside Karandlaje for this influential post are CT Ravi and the party’s state vice-president, Vijayendra Yediyurappa. Notably, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is advocating for his son’s nomination, although the party seems inclined to leverage caste dynamics to their advantage.
The Vokkaligas, a politically influential community, are predominantly concentrated in the southern region of Karnataka, known as Old Mysuru. This region boasts 51 Assembly seats, and historically, the BJP has faced challenges in establishing a significant presence here when compared to other parts of the state.
Source: News9live
Shobha Karandlaje, herself a member of the Vokkaliga community, currently serves as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, representing the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. Her potential appointment as the BJP Karnataka unit president is seen as a calculated move to consolidate support among Vokkaligas in the Old Mysuru region.
Furthermore, the BJP has recently announced an alliance with the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. This alliance carries substantial weight in Southern Karnataka, where Vokkaligas constitute a significant portion of the population. Such an alliance is expected to enhance the BJP’s electoral base in this region.
Source: The Federal
The current president of the Karnataka state unit, Nalin Kumar Kateel, was granted an extension after his tenure concluded last year. The initial plan was for him to remain in this role until the Assembly elections had concluded. However, following the BJP’s less-than-desirable performance in the state elections, the party has yet to name his replacement.
