Differences crop up in BJP over choice of candidates

Differences among BJP leaders, which had cropped up over finalising the first list of candidates for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls, loom large as they meet on Friday to decide the second list.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s choice of candidates was not considered during the selection of the first list of 96 candidates announced on Tuesday. Sources said Yeddyurappa had sent a list of 15 candidates, including those to the wards of Himmegepura, Jayanagar, Vidyapeetha, Chickpet, among others.

Yeddyurappa has since remained in New Delhi and is unlikely to attend the meeting on Friday in Bengaluru. He had threatened not to campaign during the polls if his candidates are not considered, it is said. He is said to have conveyed the same to party State president Pralhad Joshi. However, the party is not keen as the winnability of the candidates was not high and also they had parted ways with the BJP to join Yeddyurappa’s erstwhile KJP. Besides, they do not want Yeddyurappa to claim credit for the victory of the party if it manages to retain the BBMP Council. It was during Yeddyurappa’s tenure as chief minister that the BJP had won the BBMP Council by winning 112 of the 198 seats. Sources said senior leaders Ananth Kumar, D V Sadananda Gowda, R Ashoka, V Somanna have decided not to succumb to the threats of Yeddyurappa.

The BJP on Tuesday had come out with the first list of 96 candidates after much haggling among its leaders who wanted candidates of their choice in the list. Ashoka had come in for flak from Ananth Kumar and Gowda for imposing his choice of candidates on the party. The party has appointed Ashoka in charge of the elections.

Personal grudges have also come into play, sources said. Former corporator Chandrashekaraiah (Hampi Nagar) was denied a ticket at the instance of V Somanna, his one-time close associate. His relation with Somanna frayed over the last few years. Similarly, Ashoka is said to have opposed giving a ticket to former mayor Venkateshmurthy. Venkateshmurthy had sought a ticket from Padmanabhanagar constituency during the last assembly polls which infuriated Ashoka, who represented the constituency.