Karnataka: Eranna Kadadi, Ashok Gasti chosen as BJP's RS candidates
The BJP on Monday sprang a surprise by announcing the candidature of Eranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti for Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka scheduled on June 19.
The party top brass has rejected the names recommended by the state unit.
"Both Kadadi and Gasti are party grass root workers and active in the organisation for several decades. Recognising their contribution to the party, the party top brass approved their names for Upper House elections, " said a senior party leader.
Kadadi belongs to Veerashiva Lingayat community from Belagavi district. He earlier served as party's Belagavi district unit president and Zilla Panchayat president. Gasti belongs to Savitha Samaj (barber) community from Raichur district. He also served as party in charge for the Bellary district.
Earlier the state unit had recommended three names for the party top brass for approval : going Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore, former Lok Sabha member Ramesh Katti and hotelier Prakash Shetty.
However, the party top brass rejected all the three names. "Despite intense lobbying by several leaders, by selecting common workers for Rajya Sabha polls, the party has not only recognised loyal workers but also ensured that money bag and influential people should not get upper house members," said the leader.
The elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka are to be held on June 19 and last date for filing nominations will be on June 9.
Since BJP can win only two seats comfortably, it has announced only two names. Though it has some extra votes, the party will not field third candidate, said the official.
Congress announced senior leader Mallikarjuna Kharge as the party candidate while former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will file nominations as JD (S) candidate.
Four Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka B K Hariprasad, Rajeev gowda, Prabhakar Kore and Kupendra Reddy are to retire on June 25.
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