Bangalore : Now, appointed as the BJP’s vice president, former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda has every reason to smile.

After stepping down as the chief minister, Gowda was aiming for the State party president’s post. The post, however, was given to Pralhad Joshi, MP for Dharwad.
Gowda’s appointment ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls can be construed as BJP’s move to give primacy to Vokkaliga community to which he belongs.

After the late Jagannath Rao Joshi, the great orator who hailed from Nargund, Gowda is the second person from the State to get the vice president’s post. Previously, Gowda had served as the party’s national secretary.

The BJP State unit felicitated him at the party office, where a meeting of senior leaders was convened to discuss selection of candidates. At the event, Gowda said he would strive to strengthen the party.

Confusion galore

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar exuded confidence that the BJP would return to power after the polls.

Noting that there was greater confusion in the Congress with regard to distribution of tickets than in other parties, he said such problems did not exist in the BJP.

“In our party, candidates are selected at the State level, whereas in the Congress all decisions are taken in Delhi. This is the major difference between the two parties,” he said.

State to find voice

Gowda’s appointment as vice president, will ensure that the voice of the State unit will be heard louder, said Shettar.

Joshi and deputy chief ministers K S Eshwarappa and R Ashoka were present on the occasion.

Shettar, Eshwarappa, Ashoka, Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore and ministers Govind Karjol and C T Ravi have been appointed as members on the BJP national executive committee.