Top leadership to decide next Karnataka chief: BJP MP

MYSURU: Amid speculations around the appointment of a new BJP state chief and Naleen Kumar Kateel stepped down from the post following the party's crushing defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, Lok Sabha MP Prathap Simha on Monday said the onus was on the top leadership to take a call on the same.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday, the BJP MP said, "It is for the party's top brass to decide as to who should take over as our next president in Karnataka. It is the high command, which will take a call on the matter at the right time. I am still a junior member of the party and it is not my place to speak on these issues."

He added that he has only been with the BJP for 10 years. Saying that a section of party workers want firebrand BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje to take charge of the party's state unit, Simha said, "I can't say much about the appointment of our next president in Karnataka. However, a section of our party workers are calling for Shobha Karandlaje to take the top post (in Karnataka). Personally, I also wish for Shobha-ji to be made the next state president."

On next year's Lok Sabha elections, the young MP said the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was on course to return to power at the Centre. Saying that the party will contest the next general elections in the name of PM Modi, the young MP said, "We will win in the name of PM Modi. He is our God. However, one shouldn't link the appointment of our new state president to the next Lok Sabha elections. They are unrelated."