Bengaluru: The selection of Tejasvi Surya from Bengaluru South seems to have left many seniors shell-shocked. Former deputy chief minister, R. Ashok and MLA V. Somanna who, flip-flipped over recommending the name of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, were not to be seen on Tuesday when Mr Surya filed nominations.
Even as leaders started digging more as to why the BJP central leadership intentionally denied the party ticket to Mr Surya, a highly placed source in the party said that it was a clever move by the party " to cut the city syndicate run by R. Ashok and others.”
"Our south Indian organizing secretary B.L. Santhosh's intervention in the case of Bengaluru South might have some strong reason. Why did they not drop Shobha Karandlaje, Anantkumar Hegde and others who face strong anti-incumbancy? Why change only Bengaluru South?
The answer is simple: Bengaluru city unit was run like a syndicate by R. Ashok and others. During assembly elections, because they had an adjustment with rival parties, the party took a beating. The party wanted to break this syndicate. Perhaps, it's begun with Bengaluru South. Mr Santhosh has set the process in motion," sources said.
The other reason for the party changing its stand was the flip-flop of Mr Ashok and Mr Somanna. Both the leaders had opposed tooth and nail the candidature of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar's candidature when the selection process started.
However, midway through the process with party workers backing her, both Ashiok and Somanna changed their tune. This might have irked central leaders, who preferred to stick to their original stance against giving the seat to Tejaswini, even though they had not hesitated in the case of the kin of other deceased BJP leaders.
