BJP likely to announce next Karnataka CM candidate in 2 days: Sources

Bengaluru: Following the resignation of Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa from the post of the Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday, a senior BJP leader confirmed that the successor to take forward the legacy of Yediyurappa will be announced in a couple of days.

As per the BJP party sources, a decision in this regard will be conveyed to the parliamentary board meeting scheduled to be held today in New Delhi.

A Times of India report quoted its sources as saying that the BJP has shortlisted eight persons for the post and added that most likely a Lingayat will be picked to take forward the legacy of Yediyurappa in the state. "Dharwad West MLA Aravind Bellad, Vijayapura MLA Basannagouda Patil Yatnal, Karnataka Mines and Geology Minister Murgesh R Nirani and Basavaraj Bommai may get a chance as they belong to Panchamasali Lingayat community," TOI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Amith Shah, Rajnath Singh, National Organising Secretary B.L. Santhosh and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh are expected to hold a party parliamentary board meeting to discuss the new leadership, the sources said.

The sources also confirmed that the party would send observers to the state on Tuesday. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, senior leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupendra Yadav are likely to be sent as observers to the state.

The observers will hold a day-long meeting with the BJP legislators on Wednesday.

The senior leaders after collecting opinions from MLA's in the state are likely to announce the name of the new Chief Minister at the legislature party meeting which is likely to be held on Thursday.

The BJP's state unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel and Arun Singh have already stated that the new Chief Minister will be selected in the parliamentary board meeting and the process will be completed in a span of two to three days.

It is said that the new Chief Minister will take an oath by Thursday.

The high command, which has been treading a cautious path so far, is expected to speed up the process of anointing a new face aggressively, the sources said.

The major Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers have not reacted to the incident barring Dingaleshwara Swamiji of Balehosur Mutt. There were no protests except in the hometown of Yediyurappa.

Immediately after the resignation of Yediyurappa, Nadda, Shah and Parliamentary Affairs and Mining minister Prahlad Joshi held a closed-door meeting in Delhi to discuss the state developments.