BJP appoints Vijayendra as new state party president

BENGALURU: After months of suspense, the BJP top brass on Friday evening announced B Y Vijayendra, son of senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, as the new state party president. The appointment was announced by party national general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Arun Singh, in New Delhi.

With the appointment of a young leader, the party hopes to energise the cadre and strengthen its base ahead of the Lok Sabha election. It will also look to consolidate its Lingayat vote bank with the move while prompting Yediyurappa, the Lingayat strongman, to campaign actively for the Lok Sabha polls.

The party was apprehensive of losing the support of the dominant Lingayat community after it eased Yediyurappa out of the chief minister’s post. Ahead of the Assembly election this year, senior Lingayat leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi too had quit the party.

With a new state president now appointed, all eyes will now be on the appointment of the leader of the opposition in the Assembly and Council. After choosing a Lingayat as state chief, the party may pick a Vokkaliga as opposition leader, it is being speculated. The appointment is likely to be made ahead of the winter session of the state legislature which will be held next month in Belagavi.