Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 2: BJP national president Amit Shah has announced that he is not responsible if BJP state leaders promise tickets and stressed that the tickets will be decided by central leadership.
Speaking at a meeting to review the poll preparedness of the state unit in Bengaluru on Sunday, he said "There will be demand for tickets. If Union Minister Ananth Kumar assures, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje the ticket, I am not responsible. It is only an assurance. Who gets the ticket will be decided by usus , the party central leadership,”
His statement seemed to be direct dig at Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa who has been drawing flak from his detractors for announcing official candidates who will contest in the upcoming polls during the ongoing Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra.
Shah stressed that the framework set by him for candidate selection should be strictly followed. A core team headed by Yeddyurappa should ‘silently’ shortlist and informally assess two to three candidates for each Assembly constituency during the Yatra.
A survey will be conducted by an independent agency on the winning ability of the shortlisted candidates. Simultaneously, the central leadership will be conducting another independent ground reality study. The final candidate list will be drawn based on survey findings and study results.
Shah’s statement is creating a buzz in the BJP circles and some are even apprehensive about Shobha’s candidature.
During the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra in Tumakuru, Yeddyurappa announced 'Masala' Jayaram will be the party's official candidate for this year's Assembly polls from the Turuvekere constituency. Jayaram had unsuccessfully contested the 2013 Assembly elections from Yeddyurappa's erstwhile Karnataka Janata Party (KJP).
Later, at a public convention during the Yatra in Tipatur in Tumakuru district, Yeddyurappa announced that former MLA B C Nagesh will be the BJP's official candidate from the constituency.
After that Yeddyurappa announced 20-25 candidates which also led to controversy in Kalaburagi, Bidar and Shivamogga districts as he announced his KJP followers as candidates.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa had openly denounced Yeddyurappa for announcing candidates overriding the directions of the central leadership.