From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 21: Home and Law Minister Basavaraj Bommai, one of the contenders in the race for the Chief Minister’s post in the event of change of leadership in the State, made it clear that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will continue to stay in office and there will not be any change of leadership in Karnataka.

Bommai, who belongs to the politically powerful Lingayat community considered the stronghold of the ruling BJP, told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, dismissed the rumours and speculation over change in leadership as nothing but an attempt to create political instability in the State.

“Yediyurappa is a trusted leader and has proved himself as an able administrator besides being a workhorse. There is no question of changing the Chief Minister,’’ he said.

It is learnt that the Chief Minister, who had decided to convene the BJP legislature party meeting on July 26 to mark the second anniversary of his chief ministership, has cancelled the meeting.

However, the Chief Minister will be hosting a dinner to the BJP legislators on July 25. He is also scheduled to host a dinner or lunch for the senior officials and his staff.

Lingayat Seers Extend Support

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, who has been reportedly advised by the party high command, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as well as BJP National President J P Nadda to step down so as to enable a younger person to take over as the State’s chief minister to lead the party in the assembly polls due in 2023 and also lead in the 2024 lok sabha polls in view of his age being 78, is quietly building up pressure on the BJP national leadership against unseating him.

A large contingent of Swamijis of the powerful Lingayat community from different districts called on the Chief Minister on Tuesday and another batch of Lingayats pontiffs called on him at his official residence Cauvery expressing their total support to Yediyurappa. They are understood to have issued a subtle warning that the community will not take any attempt to destabilise him as he is the unquestioned leader of the community.

In fact, senior Congress leaders from the Lingayat community such as M B Patil and Shamanur Shivashankarappa have also publicly indicated that the BJP will be wiped out in the State if Yediyurappa was forced to quit.

It remains to be seen whether the BJP high command will show the courage to show the door to Yediyurappa against his wishes.