Only 9 months have passed since the Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai took over, but once again the discussions of change of leadership are going on in the state. He was made CM in place of former CM and veteran Lingayat leader BS Yediyurappa. It is being said that Bommai’s removal is being considered for not handling the issue ranging from the hijab controversy to the suicide of the contractor. The top leadership believes that due to these controversies, the BJP’s electoral prospects in 2023 may be affected. BJP sources, however, deny any such dramatic change.
Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bangalore today has intensified these speculations. Discussions about the expansion of Bommai’s cabinet have been going on for a long time and it can be done soon. A statement of General Secretary BL Santosh, who is considered powerful in BJP, has given more fuel to these speculations. He said that BJP had shown big changes in Delhi and Gujarat. This shows that the party leadership has the courage to replace the entire leadership at the state level.
Speculations of change have intensified due to the statement of BL Santosh
BL Santosh told The Indian Express, “I am not saying that it will happen everywhere, but the BJP is capable of taking those decisions which are not done by other parties. Such decisions are possible because of the party’s confidence and will. In Gujarat, when the CM was changed, then the entire cabinet was changed simultaneously. This was done to bring freshness to the leadership of the state. There was no complaint behind it. He said that change is important in politics.
Close to CM said – efforts are being made to create pressure
BL Santosh said, ‘It is not easy to return to power for the second time. Whoever is in power, they have the challenge of winning re-election. They face the difficulty of dealing with anti-incumbency. Since his remarks, it is being speculated that perhaps within a year, there will be a change of leadership in Karnataka again. However, there was no response from Bommai for any such comment. But he has been preparing for the cabinet reshuffle for the last two weeks. At the same time, the leaders close to him say that this rumor is being spread by people close to the Chief Minister so that the ministers can pressurize them to get a place in the council.