Karnataka BJP chief clears air about his resignation

Mangaluru: Speculations surrounding the resignation of BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel were put to rest as he clearly denied stepping down from his position.

Earlier in the day, addressing the media at a press conference in Ballari, Nalin spoke about the recent Assembly election defeat. He said that after the defeat of BJP in the assembly election he had owned the moral responsibility for it, both verbally and in writing, to the party seniors.

Shortly thereafter, media and social media platforms were flooded with speculations about Nalin's resignation. In response, Nalin released a statement clarifying the situation.

"I would like to emphasize that I have not resigned from my role as Party president. The information circulating in the media is far from the truth. I have never stated my resignation as the party president. My statement seems to have been misinterpreted," Nalin stated in a press statement

Nalin further explained, "While responding to a question (at a press conference) in Ballari, about V Somanna's aspirations to become the party president, I acknowledged my responsibility for the party's defeat. I stated that I had shared the reasons behind the defeat with the party seniors. Also, I mentioned that I have held the position of party president for approximately four years."

While the tenure for National, State, District, and Mandal positions in the BJP is typically three years, Nalin's completion of his three-year term coincided with the assembly elections in Karnataka, leading to a postponement in the selection of a new president.

Nalin stated in the press statement that the party would make an appropriate decision regarding the appointment of the state party president at the right time.