“This Election About Tipu vs Savarkar”: Karnataka BJP Chief Spurs Controversy

GG News Bureau

Shivamogga, 10th Feb. Karnataka’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nalin Kumar Kateel sparked outrage on Wednesday by declaring that the state’s upcoming assembly election is all about “Tipu vs Savarkar.”

On Wednesday, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel told the people, “This (Assembly) election is all about Tipu vs Savarkar. They (Congress) allowed celebrating Tipu Jayanti which was not required, and spoke disgracefully about Savarkar. I challenge Siddaramaiah to discuss if our country needs a patriot like Savarkar or Tipu.”

Meanwhile, the BJP state president challenged Siddaramaiah to a debate over whether Tipu or Savarkar is more important to the state.

“People need to understand if they need a patriot like Savarkar or Tipu,” said BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Earlier on February 7, Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party is not expanding the Karnataka Cabinet because it does not want to appoint the son of its senior leader, BS Yediyurappa.

Karnataka is expected to hold Assembly elections this year in April-May to elect all 224 members of the Legislative Assembly.

According to a BJP source, “On the one hand, work is being done to reorganize and restructure the booth committee, so that the booth committee becomes more strong, on the other hand ‘Booth Vijay Abhiyan’, ‘Janaspandana Rally’, ‘Jana Sangathan Yatra’ are going on to ensure BJP’s victory in Karnataka and the party leaders are continuously interacting with people through these rallies.”

According to sources, the BJP believes that booth empowerment strengthens the organization; if the booth is strong, the organization will remain active.

“Three months are left for the Karnataka elections. In view of the 2023 elections, all these preparations are being done and after that, we will focus on 2024,” the BJP sources said.

In terms of reshuffling in the Karnataka government, a BJP source said that with only three months left, there will be no major changes.