Mangaluru: In a surprising development, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has been appointed as the new Chief of state BJP, on Tuesday.
Visiting his home town of Mangaluru for the first time after assuming the new post, Nalin Kumar, who was on a visit to Kerala was given a warm welcome by the party workers at Kankanady railway station, on Wednesday.
Speaking here, he said that he comes from the RSS background, where he learnt to work without expecting any returns.
“I had never expected this to happen. I will do my duty with utmost sincerity. The party allocates each person some responsibility. I have been given a major role of organising the party and in this direction, I will seek guidance and support from both seniors and juniors in the party,” he said.
Many have looked at Kateel’s appointment to the top post from a caste-based political angle. Since a major chunk of ministry has been given to the Lingayats in the state cabinet, the BJP had to do some bit to pacify the other communities. When it comes to the coastal belt, Billava community got representation with Kota Srinivas Poojary being given a ministry. Sources say that another major community of the coast-Nadavas (bunts) were to be given some representation and hence Nalin Kumar Kateel, who hails from the Bunt community has been given a major role of leading the party in the state.
