C T Ravi or Aravinda Limbavali? Who will be B S Yediyurappa’s successor?

Bengaluru: The state BJP is likely to get a new president and the frontrunners are  party leader, C.T. Ravi and Mahadevapura MLA, Aravinda Limbavali, according to party sources. Mr. Limbavali, is however, believed to have the edge over Mr. Ravi, because of his acceptability among all senior leaders, including Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa.

Mr. Limbavali’s name was almost finalised  after LS elections, but the sex audio clip scandal put a halt to the announcement, say sources. Those close to the BJP leader claim it was a ploy by his own partymen to stop him from becoming  president of the state unit of the party.

With over 20 years experience in the party organisation, he has handled many elections and is credited with helping BJP win four LS seats in Telangana in the recent elections when he was put in charge of party’s campaign in that state. Party insiders say he played a key role in the recent Operation Lotus to bring down the Kumaraswamy government. Moreover, he is said to have a good working relationship with senior BJP leaders, who are reportedly impressed by his strategies. But on the downside, he does not enjoy a rapport with the party’s second rung leaders and cadre, say sources.

Mr. Ravi, on the other hand, is believed to have the strong backing of organisational secretary B.L. Santhosh.  Identified as the party’s Hindutva face  Mr Ravi has long been an aspirant for the president’s post. But his candidature could be opposed by Mr Yediyurappa with whom he does not enjoy the best of relations, say sources. Mr Ravi also lacks support among the party’s senior leaders, according to them. Other names doing the rounds for the state party president’s are R. Ashok,  Shobha Karandlaje and Nalin Kumar Kateel.