BJP names Dharmendra Pradhan, Annamalai in charge of Karnataka polls

BENGALURU: The BJP on Saturday appointed Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as in-charge for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election. The party’s Tamil Nadu state president K Annamali will be co-incharge.

In a statement on Saturday, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said the appointment were made by party national president Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Dharmendra Pradan had earlier been election in-charge in Karnataka and is well-versed with the state politics, leaders and organisation. The backward classes leader will look to garner SC, ST and backward class votes on the plank of the increased reservatation for the two groups. The party almost has the upper caste votes in its kitty.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai is quite well known in Karnataka, having served in the police department in various capacities. He was known as an upright officer and has a huge fan following. The party will be looking to tap the Tamil vote base in parts of Karnataka by deploying him for poll duties in the state.