Karnataka BJP in-charge Arun Singh to visit state on June 16; party core committee meeting on June 18: Minister | Bengaluru

Karnataka’s minister of rural development and Panchayat Raj KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday said that the party’s in-charge Arun Singh will meet with the state BJP ministers on June 16 (Wednesday) and June 17 (Thursday). He also said that there will be a core committee meeting on June 18 (Friday).

Eshwarappa also said that the purpose of Singh’s visit was to listen to the BJP MLAs about their opinions on chief minister BS Yediyurappa and also their grievances.

“BJP’s state in-charge Arun Singh is coming to Karnataka on Wednesday. There’ll be [a] meeting of state ministers on Wednesday and Thursday headed by Singh. MLAs will present their opinions on CM BS Yediyurappa and their grievances,” news agency ANI quoted Eshwarappa as saying. “There will be a core committee meeting on 18th June. It’s BJP, we believe in democracy. Central leaders are sending Arun Singh to listen to the leaders here in Karnataka. It’s not like Congress where no one listens or asks,” he further added.

Also read | Karnataka to unlock in phases from today; curbs to continue in 11 districts

The minister’s remarks came amidst the simmering leadership issue within the ranks of the Karnataka BJP. Despite the party’s efforts to put the matter to rest, talks about leadership change in the state keeps emerging. Some senior leaders of the BJP like Arun Singh, national general secretary CT Ravi and Union minister Prahlad Joshi have expressed their support to the chief minister BS Yediyurappa and have denied speculations about removing him from the post.

“Yediyurappa is doing a good job as the CM, he is working hard along with Ministers and legislators, [and the] organisation is also functioning well. He (Yediyurappa) will continue (as CM),” Singh had said earlier on June 10 (Thursday), news agency PTI reported.

Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa also confirmed Singh’s three-day visit to the state from Wednesday. “Arun Singh is Karnataka in-charge, he is coming to the state, he will talk to all legislators and Members of Parliament, there are no confusions, he has said anyone can meet him. He will gather all the information in detail… he will be there for a couple of days. I will also be with him and give all required cooperation,” PTI quoted the chief minister as saying, on Tuesday.

Yediyurappa had also said that controlling Covid-19 in the state was his only focus despite a few state legislators having reportedly visited Delhi last month and sought appointments with the party’s high-command. “The only thing before me is Covid, controlling it and protecting the interest of the people is my priority. If some has gone somewhere (referring to some legislators going to Delhi to meet high command), they have been given the right answers (by the high command) and sent back,” PTI quoted the chief minister as saying, earlier on May 27.