BS Yeddyurappa's candidate list lands him in a spot

BENGALURU: An overzealous state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa has handed ammunition to his detractors and irked top leaders in New Delhi with his unilateral announcement of candidates for several Assembly constituencies while traversing Tumakuru district as the charioteer of ‘Parivarthana Yatra.’ 

The former chief minister’s detractors have complained to party president Amit Shah and other leaders about how Mr Yeddyurappa listed names of candidates for Kunigal (Krishnakumar), Turuvekere (Masala Jayaram), Tumakuru (Jyothi Ganesh), Tiptur (B C Nagesh) and Koratagere (Huchchaiah) constituencies for next year’s assembly elections. In a couple of other constituencies, the Lingayat strongman and his lieutenants hinted about potential candidates much to the chagrin of loyal party workers, a senior leader told Deccan Chronicle.

The leader said Mr Yeddyurappa jumped the gun well before Mr Amit Shah and others could take a call on potential candidates for various constituencies. “Mr Yeddyurappa and other leaders originally maintained that our central leadership will pick the candidates, but the leader took the liberty to drop hints or name candidates in five Assembly constituencies in Tumakuru district. If this trend continues, other ticket aspirants will resort to anti-party activities,” rued the leader.    

The upshot of the complaint to Mr Shah: Mr Yeddyurappa refrained from mentioning names of potential candidates during his tour of Hassan district on Monday.