BJP leader and spokesperson Vaman Acharaya said, BL Santosh will be a full-time RSS worker while the BJP is looking a Lingayat face beyond BS Yediyurappa.
Bengaluru: With rumours of BJP's national organising secretary and Karnataka's RSS face BL Santosh replacing BS Yediyurappa after two years doing the rounds, BJP leaders have said Santosh will remain a guiding force and will not be made chief minister. However, the BJP is certainly looking for Lingayat face beyond CM BS Yediyurappa.
Though PM Modi, who rose to the rank of a PM from an ordinary RSS worker and was able to become the biggest politician in India stemming from the RSS banner, serves as an inspiration, BL Santosh is confined to the RSS and will remain so, Acharya said.
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"BL Santosh is a full-timer in the RSS and cannot be made CM. However, the Central BJP unit is looking for an alternate Lingayat face away from the present political circle of BJP," stated Acharya.
He further added that, in the past, there has been no grooming of any Lingayat leader, or upliftment by giving them any ministry, and stated that those who have grown from RSS background and have become a BJP minister are mainly from the South Canara belt.
"Santosh becoming chief minister or placing his man Lakshman Savadi who is being projected to be the Lingayat face now is all speculation. Lakshman Savadi is basically from the Janata Dal. Lakshman Savadi is from cooperative movement. He is a capable man and maintains a low-key profile. If he can be groomed, we can add Savadi on the list," said Acharya.
However, the Congress and the JDS say that the BJP will only place upper-caste man as its president to head the state:
Congress leader Kengal Shreepada Renu in his observation on the development said BJP always wants an upper caste man to be in power. "They (BJP) will use lower caste people to do the work, while they sit in top posts," said Renu.
Echoing similar sentiments, Tanveer Ahmed, national spokesperson of the JD(S) termed CM BS Yediyurappa as an old man in a hurry. "He will soon be in BJP's margdarshak committee. He is enjoying the CM post which is a gift given by PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah. BJP wants a person who follows the dogmatic principles of the RSS and holds the ideology of Hindutva, and Santosh represents that, so there is no surprise if Yediyurappa is removed later and Santosh becomes CM," noted Ahmed.
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