The BJP has selected Basavaraj Bommai as its new chief minister in Karnataka. The decision was taken at the party's legislature meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) legislature party has elected Basavaraj S Bommai as the new chief minister of Karnataka. Basavaraj Bommai was the home minister in the BS Yediyurappa government and was among the top contenders for the chief minister's post.
During the BJP's legislature party meeting, Bommai's name was proposed by BS Yediyurappa and seconded by Karjol Ashok Eshwarappa and all BJP MLAs.
Just like the outgoing Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who resigned on Monday, the new chief minister is also from the politically influential Lingayat community.
Basavaraj Bommai met Governor on Tuesday evening to stake claim to form government. He will take oath at 11 am at the Raj Bhawan today.
Sources in the BJP said there is consensus on having three deputy chief ministers in the new government in Karnataka. The likely names are: R Ashoka (from Vokkaliga community), Govind Karjol (from the Scheduled Caste) and Sriramalu (from the Scheduled Tribes).
Of the 22 chief ministers in Karnataka so far, only three were able to serve their full term.
The outgoing Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa, held the post for 1,901 days spread across four different tenures. On as many as nine occasions, chief ministers could not even complete a year in office.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was one of the central observers sent by the BJP to Karnataka, congratulated Basavaraj Bommai in a series of tweets and said he was elected unanimously by the BJP MLAs.
"Heartiest congratulations to Shri BS Bommai on being elected as the new chief minister of Karnataka. A unanimous choice, he was elected as the leader of the legislative party of Karnataka BJP in the presence of Shri BS Yediyurappa, Arun Singh and other senior party functionaries," he tweeted.
In another tweet he wrote, "One of the main architects of a first-ever @BJP4India government in South India, Shri BS Yediyurappa leaves behind a lasting legacy. Compliments to him for prioritising the welfare of Karnataka. Wishing him the best in his endeavours to strengthen the party and serve the people of Karnataka."
IN BRIEF: WHO IS BASAVRAJ BOMMAI
Basavaraj Bommai belongs to the Sadara Lingayat community. He is a close confidant of BS Yediyurappa and hails from the 'janata pariwar'. His father SR Bommai also served as Karnataka's chief minister.
Basavaraj Bommai joined the BJP in 2008 and has risen in the party ranks since then.
In the past, he held the portfolio of water resources. He is an engineer by profession and started his career with the Tata group.
Basavaraj Bommai is a two-time MLC and three-time MLA from Shiggaon in Haveri district.
WHY LINGAYATS ARE THE KEY TO BJP's SUCCESS
The outgoing Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa belongs to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. This is a community that is considered to be the BJP's core support base in Karnataka and has historically influenced the state's politics.
Eight of the 20 chief ministers that Karnataka has seen since 1956 have been from the Lingayat community.
It is estimated that this politically influential community has a significant presence in about 140 of Karnataka's 224 assembly constituencies, and a decisive presence in about 90 seats. Today, the community forms nearly 17 per cent of the state's population.
Experts say these number suggest it is foolhardy for any political party to irk the Lingayat community.
(With inputs from Nabila Jamal.)
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