The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Rebellion, ‘outsider’ tag: BJP’S hurdles in Karnataka
Former Karnataka deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa fired a fresh salvo at BJP'S parliamentary board member B S Yediyurappa for his “family politics” and sought votes in the name of Hindutva. Eshwarappa is contesting as an independent candidate from Shimoga constituency and has announced filing his nomination on April 12.
“Both father (Yediyurappa) and son (BJP state president B Y Vijayendra) had told me that my son will get the ticket,” he said, noting that Yediyurappa's elder son Raghavendra in an MP from Shimoga and the younger son — B Y Vijayendra — is an MLA from Shikaripura.
“Yediyurappa is projecting himself as a 'caste' leader to protect the interests of his children,” Eshwarappa said. The reason why prominent Hindutva ideologues such as sitting MPS Pratap Simha and Ananthkumar Hegde, and former minister C T Ravi were denied tickets is because Yediyurappa is trying to curb their growth, he alleged.
Eshwarappa is one of the many internal issues the BJP is grappling with in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP has succeeded in ensuring a smooth transition of candidates in some constituencies such as Mysuru, where Pratap Simha was replaced by Yaduveer Wadiyar of the Mysore royal family, and Uttara Kannada, where former Union minister Anathkumar Hegde made way to former Karnataka Legislative speaker Visveshwar Hegde Kageri.
Former minister K Sudhakar's nomination as BJP candidate from Chikkaballapur was met with protests by party workers. Sudhakar replaces B N Bache Gowda, who recently quit electoral politics.
Meanwhile, Yediyurappa has stepped in to quell discontent in constituencies such as Tumkur, Belagavi and Davanagere. BJP leader and former minister J C Madhuswamy had opposed the candidature of another former minister V Somanna from
Tumkur segment, calling him an “outsider”. Yediyurappa met Madhuswamy last week.
At Davanagere, where the BJP fielded Gayatri Siddeshwar in place of her husband and sitting MP G M Siddeshwara, former MLAS M P Renukacharya had openly expressed their reservations over the decision. Yediyurappa met them Tuesday.
Inbelagavi,bjptickettoformer CM Jagadish Shettar is being opposedbyasectionofbjp.speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said he will be in Belagavi Wednesday. “We will discuss with our party workersandleadersthereandresolve issues,” he said.