NEW DELHI: Amid the ‘Bommai ouster’ rumours in Karnataka, BJP General Secretary and state in-charge Arun Singh on Saturday stated that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai “is here to stay” and will lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Assembly election.
This comes amidst the political turbulence in Karnataka with the killings of several RSS workers over the last few weeks. Following this, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has been labelled as a “weak chief minister”.
The buzz in the Karnataka political circles has been filled with reports suggesting that the position of the chief minister has become tenacious.
BJP general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh told ANI, “There is no question of removing Bommai. Our leadership has placed complete confidence in him. He will surely complete his term.”
The Congress has also reacted about the law and order situation in the state.
Speaking about it, Arun Singh said, “The Congress leadership is scattered and a headless chicken-like situation. Their leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar don’t see eye to eye. So, by spreading these rumours about our leaders, they are trying to vent out their frustration.”
Karnataka Assembly elections are due to take place next year with the BJP seeking a repeat term and setting itself a target of 150 seats. This election will be fought under the leadership of Basavaraj Bommai, assured Arun Singh.
“As the party’s general secretary and in-charge of Karnataka, I can say with 100 per cent confidence that the next Assembly election will be fought under Basavaraj Bommai and we will come out victorious with another term in office in Karnataka,” added Arun Singh.
“We could sense that there is a campaign to malign the reputation of the Chief Minister and every time that there is a campaign to say ‘sack Basavaraj Bommai’, It has only strengthened the position of the CM because, in BJP, leadership does not succumb to pressure and does not act under pressure,” a senior Karnataka BJP leader told ANI.
Bommai was named Chief Minister on July 28, 2021 after former CM B S Yeddyurappa stepped down to announce Bommai as his successor. Bommai was Home Minister in the Yediyurappa cabinet.
It has been a rough one year in office for Bommai who has dealt with many challenges including the Hijab ban, meat ban, banning of loudspeakers and the recent incidents of Yuva Morcha workers getting killed.
Despite many visits in the recent few months to the national capital to meet with the top leaders of the party a possible expansion in the Bommai Cabinet is still pending. (ANI)