Amit Shah's visit: Denials on leadership change, hopes of cabinet rejig, ahead of Assembly polls

Bengaluru, May 3 (PTI) Denials poured in on change in the leadership in Karnataka, amid buzz over such a move by the BJP high command ahead of the Assembly polls next year, as Union Minister Amit Shah was on a day-long visit to take part in various events in the city on Tuesday.

This even as some party leaders expressed hopes about cabinet expansion or rejig soon, amid mounting pressure and simmering discontent within the ruling party over the delay.

It was widely expected that, during this visit, a month after he set a target of 150 seats for the Karnataka BJP for the 2023 Assembly polls, Shah was expected to assess the BJP's preparations for the polls and may give a strong message to party's leadership and office-bearers.

However, according to party sources his interaction was limited to select BJP leaders over lunch at Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's official residence.

With his visit coinciding with the birth anniversary of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, Shah began his day by paying floral tributes to the bust and statue of the Lingayat saint.

The move is seen as a reach out to Lingayats, a dominant community who have significant presence across the state and are considered as a strong vote-bank of the ruling BJP, ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls next year.

Amid buzz over possible change in the leadership, several top BJP leaders including BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, party's state unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel, ruled out Bommai's exit.

Terming the speculation of leadership change as "hypothetical", Singh said Bommai is a "common man" and people here like him.

Yediyurappa, who was replaced by Bommai in July last year, too said there are no such talks about leadership change and what is going on are mere "speculations".

Kateel said there is no confusion in the party on the leadership issue, and BJP will go to the polls together as a team, under the leadership of Bommai and Yediyurappa's guidance.

However, Bijapur City BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said the high command is thinking of big changes to make government more effective, speed up development, and to tackle corruption allegations. "It may happen before May 10." It may be noted that Yatnal, a known Yediyurappa critic was among the first to predict the state BJP strongman's exit from the CM post.

The fresh round of speculation about leadership change in the state, was following BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh's statement on Sunday that the party's strength lies in the induction of new faces.

Amid murmurs in the party circles that a top-to-bottom overhaul of the cabinet cannot be ruled out, state BJP functionaries are hopeful that a decision is likely soon regarding cabinet expansion or reshuffle, amid talks that several incumbents could make way for fresh faces.

Bommai, who is under pressure to expand or reshuffle his cabinet at the earliest, had earlier indicated that he would try to discuss it with Shah during this visit.

There are currently five positions vacant in the state cabinet, which has 29 ministers, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34.

Some legislators have even been advocating a Gujarat-like overhaul of the Karnataka cabinet soon, to make way for new faces, ahead of the assembly elections.

Yediyurappa, expressing hopes about cabinet expansion taking place in a couple of days, told reporters that Shah may announce a decision or do it after discussing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders in Delhi.

Though Shah as per his itinerary, was expected to meet party office-bearers, state core committee and presidents of party's various wings, according to BJP sources they were cancelled citing a packed schedule.

However, a select few senior leaders of the party were closeted with Shah, during lunch at Bommai's residence.

According to sources, several party leaders, legislators and Ministers who had expected some kind of interaction with Shah, amid speculations about leadership, cabinet and elections, seemed disappointed that it could not happen.

BJP MLC A H Vishwanath, who attended the lunch at the CM's residence said, "nothing...there was good food, Amit Shah gave a handshake asking how do you do? That's all. No issues came up for discussion." Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said, Shah had come to attend official programmes and in the meantime he was to have discussions with party state leaders, he met few of them over lunch.

Asked about meetings with party office-bearers and leaders being cancelled, he said, "...I think maybe as other programmes got delayed the meeting might have been cancelled. He (Shah) had addressed the core committee during his last visit itself." Shah had last visited the state on April 1 and attended the state BJP core committee meeting, during which the 150 seats target was set and discussions were held on induction of leaders from other political parties ahead of the elections, and strengthening the organisation.

The visit of Shah comes amid series of allegations against the state government including 40 per cent commission charge, resignation of senior minister K S Eshwarappa following the alleged suicide of a contractor naming him, and the alleged scam in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors, among others.

It also came after the state witnessed a series of incidents of communal flare ups in the recent past.