Asserting that his main concern was to strengthen the ruling party, the new BJP Karnataka president K.S. Eshwarappa on Thursday said he is not aspiring for chief ministership.
“Let me make it clear that I am not at all aspiring for the post of chief minister. Strengthening the party is my main concern,” he said at his maiden press meet after assuming charge last week.
Known for his aggressive style of functioning, Mr. Eshwarappa has had uneasy relationship with Chief Minister Yeddyurappa ahead of the Lok Sabha elections last year.
Coming out openly against dynastic politics, he had expressed reservations over Mr. Yeddyurappa’s son B.Y. Raghavendra being nominated as the party candidate from Shimoga.
Mr. shwarappa said though the party’s popularity is growing, it is yet to secure “complete majority” in the 224-member state assembly. “My target is to win not less than 155 seats in the next elections,” he said.
He said there would be no room for “any confusion or misunderstanding within the party, which had led to Opposition Congress and JDS to capitalise on it and exploit the situation“.
The Yeddyurappa government had faced severe crisis late last year when dissidents demanded a change in leadership, but it blew over after the party’s central leadership intervened.
