JOIN USParty directs DVS to contest from Mysore, Shobha from Udupi-Chickmagalur
The State BJP top brass and the RSS are understood to have instructed former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda to contest from Mysore, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka from Bangalore North and former minister Shobha Karandlaje from Udupi-Chickmagalur.
All the three had evinced interest to contest from Bangalore North and the allocation of constituencies to the trio is the party’s attempt to resolve the imbroglio, party sources said.
The trio have, however, not responded to the proposal yet. The party came with the formula after extensive consultation with grassroots-level workers and inputs from internal survey done by a private firm, sources said.
The party found from the feedback that the prospects of the trio were bright if they contested from the said seats.
When contacted, Karandlaje confirmed that she had received the offer. “There are several well-wishers in the Udupi-Chickmagalur who are keen that I come back to my home-base. But I have not made up my mind. Let’s see”, she told Deccan Herald.Karandlaje recently said that if at all she contested the election, it would be only from Bangalore North.
However, the Sangh is said to have told her that the cadre in the Udupi-Chikmagalur would work unitedly for her and even independent MLA Haladi Srinivasa Shetty is said to have welcomed her candidature.
Ashoka said: “Initially I was keen to contest from Bangalore North. Now I am in a dilemma as some of my friends have advised me to stay in the State and others want to enter national politics. I have not taken a final decision.” He said that most of the State leaders were already MPs - H N Ananth Kumar, Pralhad Joshi - and if B S Yeddyurappa and D V Sadananda Gowda also enter Lok Sabha, the State would be left with no leadership.
Gowda, who is reluctant to contest from Mysore, will be given another term in the Legislative Council and continued as Leader of the Opposition of the Upper House, if he receives an adverse verdict in the Lok Sabha polls. Gowda was not available for comments.
The newly constituted election committee which was scheduled to meet on Friday will now meet only next week. “We will decide on the meeting date in a day or two,” Joshi, the BJP’s State president, said.
He said the party is planning to finalise the candidates in 18 to 20 constituencies in its first list.