BJP kicks off campaigning in Bangalore North constituency without a candidate

The BJP on Saturday launched the first phase of its campaigning for the parliamentary elections to the Bangalore North constituency, without projecting its candidate.

In a large-scale meeting of the Booth Level Agents (BLAs) for the Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP leaders were unable to show their solidarity on account of the controversy surrounding the nomination of D V Sadananda Gowda and the likelihood of the sitting BJP MP D B Chandre Gowda quitting the party. Both the leaders did not attend the launch campaign. The MP chose to attend the railway function in the City.

However, senior leader Venkaiah Naidu, at the meeting, virtually anointed former deputy chief minister R Ashoka as the most likely candidate for the constituency. “While in Bangalore South we have a strong leader in the form of Ananth Kumar, Bangalore North has another leader in R Ashoka,” said Naidu. In his speech in Telugu, Hindi and English, Naidu attacked the UPA government and asked the BLAs to popularise the name of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi among the masses.

“We have to spread the message and give people the choice that if they vote for the Congress, then they are going backwards. If they vote for the Third Front, then the nation grows awkward. But if they vote for BJP, then they go forward,” he saidOther BJP leaders present at the meeting were Bangalore South Member of Parliament Ananth Kumar, MLAs C N Ashwathnarayan, Muniraju, Jagadish Kumar and former MLAs Katta Subramanya Naidu and Satish Reddy.

Basavaraj candidature

It is not just Bangalore North. Confusion over the BJP candidate prevails in Tumkur, too. While G S Basavaraj, the sitting MP, has the backing of B S Yeddyurappa to contest from Tumkur, local leaders are opposing his candidature. Asked how sure he was about getting a ticket, Basavaraj said, “Delhi leaders, including Rajnath Singh, are not opposing me. The party’s survey in the constituency has favoured me, it is said. Some local leaders are opposing my candidature. But I am hopeful of getting a ticket.”

The party, it seems, has not done its homework while shortlisting candidates. It lacks clarity as to who should be choosing the candidates - be it in Chitradurga, Uttara Kannada or Mysore, among other constituencies.