Will ‘Shobha Rising’ give state its very own Amma?
Yeddyurappa promoting her to replace Prahlad Joshi
A ‘Jayalalithaa phenomenon’ seems in the making in the state, as the ground is being prepared for 49-year-old MP Shobha Karandlaje’s elevation to the top party post - state president – with the BJP starting its search for a new face. However, ‘Shobha Rising ’, fear insiders, may not go down well with senior leaders hungry for the top post.
With incumbent Prahlad Joshi representing Dharwad left with 12 more months to complete his tenure, Shobha’s mentor and former chief minister and BJP national vice-president B S Yeddyurappa is said to be playing a pivotal role in Karandlaje’s proposed elevation, sources in the party told Bangalore Mirror.
The issue has gained prominence now, as a series of meetings by the duo to this extent with BJP and RSS brass in the past two weeks are said to have gone in favour of Karandlaje, whose candidature Yeddyurappa has vouched his support for.
If the decks are cleared, Karandlaje will be the first woman to rise to the top post in the state BJP.
“A series of meetings in New Delhi in the last two weeks that include the duo meeting party president Amit Shah has brought the party president selection issue, which would have otherwise come into the picture only at the end of Joshi’s tenure, back to life now,” a senior BJP leader told Mirror.
The BJP leader equated the possible rise of Karandlaje to that of Tamil Nadu former chief minister J Jayalalithaa through party ranks.
The contest
Prahlad Joshi, who was elected BJP state president in March 2013, will complete his tenure in March 2016. With the party looking for a fresh face, Yeddyurappa, sources said, has made the first move. The duo reportedly met Amit Shah and RSS brass over the last two weeks.
These developments may not go down well with other leaders who are eyeing the top job, especially former home minister R Ashoka, former minister K S Eshwarappa, V Somanna and C T Ravi, added sources. However, Yeddyurappa, in his continued efforts, has started convincing top seers who backed him so far including the Siddaganga mutt swami.
Ashoka betrayed?
However, the BJP leaders whose names have cropped up preferred not to comment on the development.
“Any such decision is taken by the high command and the state core committee. The right decision will be taken at the right time and we will follow whatever comes from the high command,” Ashoka told Bangalore Mirror when asked for his comments.
Karandlaje, speaking to Mirror, said “I never aspired for any post. Neither am I a contestant. There are many who have worked and built the party for several years and they deserve it more than me. I’m content being an MP.”
A ‘Jayalalithaa phenomenon’ seems in the making in the state, as the ground is being prepared for 49-year-old MP Shobha Karandlaje’s elevation to the top party post - state president – with the BJP starting its search for a new face. However, ‘
With incumbent Prahlad Joshi representing Dharwad left with 12 more months to complete his tenure, Shobha’s mentor and former chief minister and BJP national vice-president B S Yeddyurappa is said to be playing a pivotal role in Karandlaje’s proposed elevation, sources in the party told Bangalore Mirror.
The issue has gained prominence now, as a series of meetings by the duo to this extent with BJP and RSS brass in the past two weeks are said to have gone in favour of Karandlaje, whose candidature Yeddyurappa has vouched his support for.
If the decks are cleared, Karandlaje will be the first woman to rise to the top post in the state BJP.
“A series of meetings in New Delhi in the last two weeks that include the duo meeting party president Amit Shah has brought the party president selection issue, which would have otherwise come into the picture only at the end of Joshi’s tenure, back to life now,” a senior BJP leader told Mirror.
The BJP leader equated the possible rise of Karandlaje to that of Tamil Nadu former chief minister J Jayalalithaa through party ranks.
The contest
Prahlad Joshi, who was elected BJP state president in March 2013, will complete his tenure in March 2016. With the party looking for a fresh face, Yeddyurappa, sources said, has made the first move. The duo reportedly met Amit Shah and RSS brass over the last two weeks.
These developments may not go down well with other leaders who are eyeing the top job, especially former home minister R Ashoka, former minister K S Eshwarappa, V Somanna and C T Ravi, added sources. However, Yeddyurappa, in his continued efforts, has started convincing top seers who backed him so far including the Siddaganga mutt swami.
Ashoka betrayed?
However, the BJP leaders whose names have cropped up preferred not to comment on the development.
“Any such decision is taken by the high command and the state core committee. The right decision will be taken at the right time and we will follow whatever comes from the high command,” Ashoka told Bangalore Mirror when asked for his comments.
Karandlaje, speaking to Mirror, said “I never aspired for any post. Neither am I a contestant. There are many who have worked and built the party for several years and they deserve it more than me. I’m content being an MP.”
