Karnataka: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed BS Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra as party's state president with immediate effect, General Secretary Arun Singh informed on Friday.
Vijayendra, who was elected as an MLA in the assembly polls held earlier this year, is seen as a deft organisational leader and replaces Nalinkumar Kateel.
Former Karnataka CM Yediyurappa congratulated his son after he was appointed as the party president for Karnataka.
"I would like to thank the party president JP Nadda for giving me this opportunity to work as a party president in the state of Karnataka. I would also thank our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing his faith and allowing me to work as a party president... I'm really happy to take up this responsibility under the guidance of all our senior leaders in the state of Karnataka. I want to ensure to win the maximum seats, MPs to strengthen PM Modi," said Vijayendra, on being appointed as state chief.
The appointment of the 47-year-old leader, seen as the political heir to Yediyurappa, ends months of speculation as a change of guard in the state was widely expected since the BJP suffered a big defeat to the Congress in the polls held in May.
Though it was always a strong probability that the BJP will pick a Lingayat leader to lead its state unit but its decision to pick the first-time MLA ignoring the dynastic plank, something it has used to target rivals, has highlighted the political importance his father continues to wield despite being eased out of electoral politics by the party.
His elder son BY Raghavendra is a Lok Sabha MP and the BJP has often tried to ensure that it is not seen encouraging more than one member of a family in politics.
With inputs from PTI
More to follow...
