Kateel To Be Replaced by Karandlaje As Karnataka BJP Chief Following Poor Show?

Heads are expected to roll in the Karnataka BJP as the party is decimated to 66 seats in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.

BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel has taken responsibility for the poll debacle and offered to resign, according to a report in News18. He is likely to be replaced by Shobha Karandlaje.

"Not just Kateel, the entire BJP unit from the morcha level all the way to the top will be overhauled. This will happen only after the central leadership analyses what went wrong and why voters were not convinced that the BJP should be in power. The party needs a strong organiser and leader who can ensure the BJP wins 25 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," the website quoted a senior BJP functionary as saying.

Outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has already taken responsibility for the BJP's poor show in Karnataka. "...I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find out all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for Parliament elections..," said Basavaraj Bommai.

He said that the party will take the verdict in its 'stride'. Taking to Twitter, Bommai said, "We accept the verdict of the people of Karnataka with due respect. We will take this verdict in our stride. We will analyse and correct our fault lines and rebuild the party and come back during parliamentary elections."

Bommai also said that Kateel will continue as the state BJP chief. However, sources told the website that it was inappropriate and inaccurate comment.

However, Bommai is a strong contender for the role of Opposition Leader. S Suresh Kumar, Arvind Bellad and V Sunil Kumar are also said to be in the race for the post.

In the Karnataka election, the Congress emerged victorious by bagging 135 seats while the BJP managed to win just 66.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been authorised to pick the next Chief Minister by the party MLAs. Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are the frontrunners for the post.