Karnataka BJP expresses displeasure after first list of candidates announced for Lok Sabha polls

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats.

Bangalore:

The BJP’s first announcement of a list of 20 candidates for Karnataka Lok Sabha elections has sparked dissatisfaction among state leaders, with few claiming they would switch to the Congress.

Former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa, a staunch supporter of the RSS, has rebelled against the party.

Eshwarappa went all out against former chief minister and BJP parliamentary committee member BS Yediyurappa’s son KE Kantesh after he failed to make it to the list of candidates announced by the high command a week ago.

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats.

The BJP leader was hoping to get a seat from the Haveli Lok Sabha seat for his son, but the party fielded sitting MP and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Upset by the turn of events, Eshwarappa announced that he would contest elections from Shivamogga against Yeddyurappa’s eldest son BY Vijayendra in protest against the “dynasty in Karnataka” politics”.

Speaking to PTI, Eshwarappa claimed that the state of affairs of the BJP in Karnataka is bad.

“People and workers are supporting the BJP but the system here is bad. What is our Narendra Modi saying? The Congress is in the hands of a family. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi… …Congress Party at Center is being “The situation in Karnataka is controlled by one family. The same is true in Karnataka. The BJP in Karnataka is controlled by one family. We must protest against this,” the 75-year-old leader said.

He even alleged that those who support Hindutva are being marginalized, be it CT Ravi, Pratap Simha, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal or Sadananda Gowda.

“In any case, I have to fight for the election and I will do that,” Eshwarappa said.

Former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda was initially reluctant to contest the Lok Sabha elections but suddenly expressed his strong desire to fight the polls.

On Tuesday, he even hinted that he might consider joining Congress, and made his decision public at a press conference on Wednesday.

In Koppal, two-time BJP MP Karadi Sanganna was frustrated after being denied a ticket. The party has decided to field Dr. Basavaraj Kyavator.

An angry Sangana said he was also in touch with Congress leaders “but no decision has been taken yet”.

“I will not take a decision now. We will have a meeting with party leaders on Thursday. Whatever our leaders suggest is to stay in the party or join the Congress, I will take it,” Sangana told reporters.

The BJP fielded V Somanna from Tumakuru, which angered former Karnataka minister JC Madhuswamy, who expressed displeasure.

“I regret that he (Yediyurappa) did not support me and support my candidature. Now I am thinking whether to stay in this party as there is no protection here. I will discuss with my workers what to do next,” Madhuswamy said.

However, he noted that “Congress is not a safe zone.”

“When leaders create chaos in public life, only people can use their better judgment. I will convene a meeting and ask them what to do next,” Madhuswamy said.

He even said that he had made it clear that he would not work for Somanna.

Karnataka will go to polls in two phases, on April 26 and May 7.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)