Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Aug 10: State BJP unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel has ruled out any change of chief minister or leadership in the state.

Reacting to tweets made by members of the Congress party here, he said there had been no talks about change of leadership or replacing Basavaraj Bommai."The BJP will contest the forthcoming elections to the Assembly next year under the guidance of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa and the leadership of Basavaraj Bommai," he said.

Further reacting to the tweets, he said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate and KPCC president D K Shivakumar had just recently obtained bail from a court. He said the Congress party was trying to hide these facts and create confusion in the minds of the electorate while such scandals had come out in the open.

Nalin said there was confusion within the Congress about its chief ministerial candidate and were trying to avoid discussions on projecting a Dalit chief minister. Besides, the Congress leaders were trying to save the party.

The president of the state BJP unit said the infighting within the Congress had risen after the 'Siddaramotsava'. He said it was unimaginable that a senior party leader like K B Koliwad was openly criticising Siddaramaiah and that there was a big fight for the chief minister's post.

He said in light of the rising factionalism, infighting and confusions within the rank and file of the party, the Congress was diverting the issue by posting such tweets about the BJP having another chief minister for the remaining term.

Nalin said the game played by the Congress will not work. "Let them clear the confusion and stop fighting among themselves and face the elections as one unit. The situation of the Congress party will be determined by the electorate after the announcement of the results," he said.