Will contest if party wishes, says Shobha

MP and BJP State General Secretary Shobha Karandlaje said that she wishes to contest once again from Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency.

“I will contest if the party directs me to do so,” she added.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, she said, “Many leaders including D N Jeevraj and Vilas Nayak has shown interest to contest. We will abide by the decision of the party high command. There are a few aspirants who want BJP’s ticket as well as a ticket from other political parties. Such ticket aspirants are trying to defame me on social media.”

“The party had directed me to be active in the constituency, inaugurate development works and strengthen the party. I had functioned accordingly,” she added.

She said that Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar had said that he was denied the chief minister’s post thrice, which clearly shows the mindset in Congress.

The Congress is in distress for having failed in administration. Where was KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao when over 300 cars were burnt in the airshow at Bengaluru? To hide the failure of the state government, he speaks without any sense, she added.

“The BJP as the opposition has fought inside and outside the Assembly. The ministers are trying to accuse the BJP for the failure of the Congress in the state. How many ministers in Karnataka have toured to study the drought so far? she asked.

“The BJP under the leadership of B S Yeddyurappa has visited drought-hit areas and submitted a report to the state government. The Centre has released Rs 949 crore to tackle drought. In spite of it, the state government accuses the Centre of not releasing the grant,” she said and went on to accuse the state government of engaging in transferring officials.

As preparation for the election, the BJP national president has directed the BJP state unit to work towards winning at least 25 seats in Karnataka. The BJP is already preparing for the elections. The programme to visit households have been initiated. Yuva Morcha workers will take out a bike rally in each constituency on March 2.