BJP appoints Dakshina Kannada MP Kateel as new state president

BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday appointed Dakshina Kannada MP Naleen Kumar Kateel as the President of Karnataka unit of the BJP. He succeeds Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa, whose term expired a few months ago.

The announcement comes hours after the Chief Minister expanded his three week old Cabinet on Tuesday.

The appointment has set at rest speculations about Bengaluru City MLA Aravind Limbavali (Mahadevapura) being appointed for the post. Limbavali is BJP State General Secretary and his was the surprise exclusion from the Cabinet.

Limbavali participated in the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers at Raj Bhavan and extended his wishes to the new team of minsiters. While a few other MLAs expressed their disappointment at not being included in the ministry, Limbavali made no fuss.