Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 16: The process of electing state BJP chief has been concluded. The process was held at state BJP office, 'Jagannath Bhavan' at Malleshwaram here today. As no one else filed nomination papers for this post, the only nomination filed by Nalin Kumar Kateel, was accepted and the Dakshina Kannada MP was declared elected unanimously as the state BJP president for full term.

National organizational joint election officer, C T Ravi, made announcement of unanimous election. A certificate was handed over to Kateel, and he was congratulated on this achievement. BJP state organizational election officer Ashwath Narayan Gowda, joint election officer Halappa Achar and several MLAs were present.

The term of Kateel will be from January 16, 2020 to January 16, 2023. The election was held as per the party's constitution. In all likelihood, Kateel will continue as state president till the next assembly election.

After being elected as state BJP chief for the full term, Nalin Kumar Kateel addressed a press meet. He said national president of the party, Amit Shah, had appointed him as state president of the party as successor to B S Yediyurappa. He said that organizational election processes of the party have been completed during the last six months during which period, presidents of 264 Mandals were elected. Out of 37 organizational districts, presidents have been appointed for 20, he said, duly promising that he will work hard and come up to everyone's expectations.

"Initially people were not confident enough that a person from coastal area of the state would be able to manage this post. I have travelled to all the districts in the state. Next we will have to handle gram panchayat elections. Our goal is to win 80 percent of seats. In the next assembly election, under the leadership of Yediyurappa, we will win 150 seats and rise to power again. We will build the party on Gujarat model," he said.