Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jul 13: In a surprising development, young BJP leader and first-time MP from Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency Nalin Kumar's name is now making the rounds for the post of Karnataka BJP chief.

At the oath-taking ceremony, Eshwarappa, who currently holds the BJP chief's post, was seen busy in taking over his deputy CM's post. Earlier it was reported that Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar are the two names in the frontline for the post.

After the Shettar cabinet was sworn-in, heavy dissident voice were raised from coastal region as only one face from the twin coastal cities was included in the cabinet. Halady Srinivas Shetty, who was promised ministerial berth was dropped at last minute, and Kota Srinivas Poojary was included.

MLAs from the coastal region expressed unhappiness about this development, as Krishna Palemar whose name was finalized in the Shettar cabinet was also dropped at the eleventh hour. The coastal BJP units were already wounded earlier because of unprecedented exit of Vokkaliga leader Sadananda Gowda from the CM's post.

Now, to make up for the 'injustice' done to the coastal people, especially the Vokkaliga community, the state as well as the central BJP leaders are seriously thinking of appointing the young and dynamic leader from Mangalore, Nalin Kumar Kateel, for the post of the state BJP president.

L K Advani and Gadkari have reportedly given green signals to this move, because they wants someone young to take up the leadership in Karnataka. The RSS chief of South India Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat is instrumental in elevating Nalin to the state's highest BJP post, as he was behind his nomination as the Lok Sabha candidate from Mangalore.

Nalin Kumar, an organizer par excellence, appeals to the young leaders among the RSS and BJP followers in coastal districts. He defeated senior Congress leader and former central minister Janardhana Poojary by a huge margin in the last Lok Sabha election.

When Daijiworld contacted Nalin Kumar, he was not available for comment. But if his name is seen at the top of BJP nominees for the post, it will hardly be a surprise!