TIWN
Bengaluru, June 28 (TIWN): In a major embarrasment to the BJP government in Karnataka, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Umesh Katti’s recent statements demanding a separate state for north Karnataka has reignited the debate over regional divide in the southern state.
To the chagrin of BJP leaders, who are handling social unrest in the state, textbook revision row, pressure from party insiders to expand the Cabinet, such repeated statements by Katti over separate statehood for north Karnataka has put the party in a fix.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike State General Secretary, B. Sannerappa, told IANS that such divisive comments are being made by a cabinet minister in the Karnataka government.
North Karnataka is a BJP bastion and stronghold of the Lingayat community which is considered a core vote bank of the saffron party.
On the other hand, there is also a demand for a separate Tulunadu comprising the coastal districts of Karnataka. This region is also considered a strong BJP base.
It will benefit the BJP politically if there is separate state, Sannerappa said.