Haven’t resigned as BJP state president, says Nalin Kumar Kateel

BENGALURU: Hours after creating a storm by declaring that he had taken moral responsibility for the electoral loss and had conveyed to the party seniors, both by writing a letter and orally, that he would resign as BJP state president, Nalin Kumar Kateel on Saturday denied that he had submitted his resignation.

At a press conference in Ballari earlier in the day, Kateel said, “My term is over and of course there will be a process of bringing some changes in the party. I have completed two terms of four years. I had offered to resign from the party state president’s post, both through a letter and orally, taking moral responsibility for the party’s failure in the Assembly polls. There is a need to boost the morale of the party activists and strengthen the party after the unexpected result”,  he said.

To a question on former minister V Somanna’s desire to become state president of the party, Kateel said, “There is nothing wrong with Somanna asking for the post of party state president. He is a senior leader and has expressed his desire. Anybody can express their desire in our party. But the final decision will be taken by the high command”.

On the Congress government’s decision to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, Kateel said, “The BJP government enforced the Act, but now, the Congress is playing revenge politics”.

While expressing appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just concluded US tour, Kateel pointed out that about 80 per cent of Naxals have being eradicated due to the effective administration of the Modi government. The Ram Mandir at Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 24 by PM Modi himself, who laid the foundation stone earlier, Kateel informed.

Speaking about state government allegation that the Centre is not providing rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme, Kateel said, “The Centre provides 5 kg of rice per person. Rice has to be stocked for during disasters and natural calamities. The central government is ready to ensure food security in cases of drought and famine”.

On the charges of ‘adjustment politics’, the state BJP chief said the party did not have any internal agreement for any reason. “If there was an internal agreement between the BJP and Congress, R Ashoka would not have contested the election against D K Sivakumar in Kanakapura and Somanna would not contested against Siddaramaiah in Varuna”, he said.

Further, he said the BJP did not pull down Yediyurappa from his position. “He is the BJP’s supreme leader and elections were held under his guidance. Lingayats were made chief ministers, and only the BJP will make Lingayats as chief minister if it comes back to power”, Kateel added.

Meanwhile, on Friday, senior BJP leader V Somanna had offered to take up the post of BJP state president if he were given a chance. Somanna said he had brought to the attention of the BJP high command that he has 45 years of experience in politics and could rejuvenate the party in the state in 100 days.

“I also wrote the letter. I have accepted all the tasks given by the party and handled them . Some may raise questions whether I can handle the position of state president, but I am a senior member in the party. I will take everyone together. Like others, mine is an open book. I have earlier participated in campaigns for 43 days during the summer and even won a byelection. I have had no work for the last one-and-half months and I have requested that I should be given a chance to organise the party”, he added.