With unlikely names like those of industries minister Murugesh Nirani cropping up for the post of BJP state president, party bigwigs have realised that the task of choosing someone acceptable to all in the faction ridden state unit is going be to extremely difficult. Incumbent state president K.S. Eshwarappa has been holding the additional responsibility of BJP state chief after he was inducted into the Jagadish Shettar cabinet as deputy chief minister. The party has been trying to find someone who has the experience and sagacity to take all warring factions along. "The factors being considered are caste, region, experience in public life and firm roots in the RSS," sources said adding that there was none in the BJP who fitted the bill perfectly.
But the party has no alternative but to choose someone going by the norms as Mr Eshwarappa cannot hold dual charge for too long. "The BJP strictly follows the one-man-one-post principle and has surprisingly allowed Mr Eshwarappa to hold both posts for two months. This seems to be the longest period a leader has held dual posts. With speculation rife that Assembly polls may be held in December, the party may not be able to give the reins to a new president in time if it does not find someone urgently," sources said. The other name doing the rounds is that of Mangalore MP Naleen Kumar Kateel. Mr Nirani’s name was proposed by the Yeddyurappa camp to exert pressure on the party to finalise a candidate as soon as possible, sources said.