JD(S) in a bind as too many aspirants for 78 wards

After having announced its first list of 120 candidates, the JD(S) now finds itself in a bind. Serious differences have cropped up in the remaining 78 wards, each having two to three aspirants.

Until Thursday, the party’s State president H D Kumaraswamy and Chamarajpet MLA B Z Zameer Khan had involved themselves in the candidate selection process.

But after having selected 120 candidates, the duo could not complete the selection of the rest of the candidates. Now, it is up to H D Deve Gowda to iron out the differences among party leaders, workers and aspirants.

High-drama week

The party witnessed high drama all week, which continued even on Friday, as rejected and dejected aspirants threatened to boycott the party by contesting as independent candidates.

In case of Yeshwantpur Assembly constituency, which has five wards, Gowda had decided to bring in Panchalingaiah Gowda, to contest in the Hemmigepura ward. This has not gone down well with Hanumanthe Gowda, who is eying the same seat. According to party sources, Panchalingaiah, who has contested the 2008 Assembly elections and lost, became Gowda’s pick, as he has been involved in the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) movement. This has become a bone of contention.

The party has been able to select candidates for just two wards in the constituency: Doddabidarakallu — Gopal R (ST); and Herohalli — Srikanth (OBC). In 2010, the party had won only two seats in Yeshwantpur. It is hoping to turn around its fortunes this time around, but does not know how to iron out the disagreements.

In Basavangudi, differences had cropped up between three women who were vying for the Girinagar ward. While one aspirant, Geetha Shankar, has walked away, Hanumathegowda and Ravi Deepsingh are fighting it out to get tickets for their wives, Bhavya and Sheetal, respectively.

Though the seat has been reserved for women, the aspirants were nowhere in the picture.

The party is also still struggling to decide on the candidates for Kathriguppe, Vidyapeetha and Basavandgudi wards. Gowda, who held parleys with them all day long, has sought more time to announce the final list. The final list is unlikely to be out before Sunday.