Top BJP leaders put pressure on BS Yeddyurappa for tickets

Bengaluru: With BJP's central leadership delaying an announcement of candidates for some Lok Sabha seats, shortlisted aspirants are mounting pressure on state unit president B.S.Yeddyurappa to secure tickets before Tuesday, the last date for submission of nomination papers, for first phase of Lok Sabha polls.

These aspirants thronged Mr Yeddyurappa's residence in Bengaluru on Friday and Saturday and pleaded with the leader to help them make it to the final list of candidates. By evening, however, central leaders announced the party’s support for Ms Sumalatha Ambareesh in Mandya and S. Muniswamy as the candidate in Kolar though the state unit sent the name of Chalavadi Narayanaswamy to central leadership. Mr. Veeraiah and his supporters are deeply disappointed following this development. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr. Veeraiah said, "if party gives ticket, I will definitely win because there is strong anti-incumbency factor against Congress MP Muniyappa. I am still hoping that party will consider my candidature for Kolar", he added.

With regard to Raichur Lok Sabha seat, the party picked Amaresh Nayak though it assured a ticket to Tipparaju Hawaldar. Raichur is considered strong hold of Congress. Supporters of Tipparaju Hawaldar had rushed to Bengaluru, requested Mr Yeddyurappa to change the candidate much to the displeasure of the state unit president.

Interestingly, party has finalised the candidature of party MP Sanganna Karadi for Koppal LS seat, but his name was not announced in the first list. Sources said he would make it in the second list. The BJP is hoping to win another Lok Sabha seat, Chikkodi, where Marathi-speaking population is considerable in number. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, party candidate Ramesh Katti, brother of BJP senior leader Umesh Katti, defeated by narrow margin Congress heavyweight Prakash Hukkeri. Interestingly this time, BJP has finalised the name of Anna Saheb Jolle. Supporters of Katti brothers insisted that giving a ticket to Ramesh Katti cannot be ruled out at the last moment.

With regard to Bengaluru (Rural) Lok Sabha seat, party shortlisted candidate, C.P. Yogeshwar  insisted that Mr Yeddyurappa offer the ticket to his daughter Nisha Yogeshwar, a model by profession. However, Mr.Yeddyurappa has not assured about giving ticket to Nisha. He apparently told Mr.Yogeshwar to contest the elections.

Finally, for Bengaluru (South) Lok Sabha, party candidate Tejaswini Ananthkumar is still hoping to get the ticket in the second list. A senior leader and party core committee member told this newspaper the central leaders hinted that one surprise candidate would contest from Bengaluru (South), causing much confusion about such a candidate.