The ruling BJP is bracing for a fresh crisis down south of the country after speculations over Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s possible exit gained momentum.
This was after Bommai was quoted as saying, “Nothing is permanent in this world. This life is also not forever. In such a situation these posts and positions are also not permanent; this is something we should always be aware of all the time.”
Many had concluded that Bommai was hinting at another leadership change in Karnataka ahead of the next assembly polls. He had replaced BS Yeddyurappa in a controversial succession plan in July this year.
The BJP, however, has termed the speculations an attempt to create confusion against the Hindutva party. BJP Karnataka unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, “Bommai is going to be the Chief Minister till the next election, which is 2023. There is no leadership change.”
Kateel added, “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.”
Yediyurappa was sworn in as the state’s chief minister in 2019, a year after the Congress and the JDS formed the government in Karnataka. This was after the Congress-JDS government collapsed due to rebellion within their parties. As many as 17 MLAs belonging to both the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular had resigned and left the stay for Mumbai, where they had been camping under police protection.
However, the BJP decided to get rid of Yediyurappa in July this year and replace him with Bommai.