The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday dropped nine sitting Karnataka MPs, including its former state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel and Pratap Simha, from its first list of 20 Lok Sabha candidates from Karnataka. The development came as a surprise with some unexpected picks.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, too, is making his first Parliament run from Haveri. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the face of the Mysuru royal family, is also making his Lok Sabha poll debut from the Mysore seat in place of Simha.
Cardiologist Dr CN Manjunath, the son-in-law of Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda will contest from Bangalore Rural facing Congress’ DK Suresh, who is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi will contest from Dharwad and BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra from Shimoga.
Ten sitting MPs have been re-nominated. However, their nomination has sparked opposition within the party’s ranks. With the changes, the BJP seems to have given a clear message to rebellions that it will not cow down to any such threats.
Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba, too, got the Bidar ticket again amid opposition from BJP MLAs there.
The BJP leadership gave a surprise to the party leaders by fielding Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary from the Udupi-Chikmagalur ticket. Poojary belongs to the Billava (OBC) community.
In an attempt to maintain the caste equation, senior leader V Somanna got the Tumkur ticket. Hailing from Lingayat community, Somanna faced opposition from party ranks after having lost last year’s Assembly polls from two constituencies. However, the central leadership has overlooked opposition to Somanna.
In Haveri, in spite of threats of rebellion by veteran KS Eshwarappa who wanted the ticket for his son KE Kanthesh, the BJP went with Bommai.
Nine sitting MPs were dropped due to anti-incumbency and age factors, sources said.
In Koppal, anti-incumbency factor caused two-time Koppal MP Sanganna Karadi to lose his turf. Bellary’s Y Devendrappa lost the ticket due to age.
In Davangere, the BJP denied ticket to sitting MP GM Siddeshwara citing health issues, instead gave ticket to his wife Gayatri Siddeshwara.
At a time when the BJP is viewing Karnataka as the gateway to the South, such drastic changes are not only striking but have given rise to the smell of rebellion among state BJP party ranks.
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