BENGALURU: The BJP is holding a series of meetings to firm up the state leadership. BJP National General Secretary (Organising) B L Santhosh has arrived from New Delhi and is participating in the meetings to select a new state unit leader and a legislature party leader.
Two names are clearly emerging -- general secretary C T Ravi as party president and MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal as Opposition leader. This also means that the party is opting for its tried and tested caste combination -- Vokkaliga for state president and Lingayat for Opposition leader.
The Karnataka BJP has been virtually leaderless, and the party has been functioning without a leader in the assembly. The state president was due to be changed, especially with Nalin Kumar Kateel now a shadow of himself, post the election loss. Santhosh’s entry to finalise the leadership adds a new dimension to the search.