Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 15: Congress, BJP and JD (S) parties, which are busy making preparations to face the fast-approaching Lok Sabha elections, are facing shortage of able candidates who can swing the pendulum in their favour.
Suitable candidates are not available to contest in nearly 10 constituencies of the state. There are enough aspirants to contest in all the three major political parties of the state but candidates who can ensure victory for sure are not available.
While BJP and Congress are facing the issue in four constituencies each, JD (S) is not able to get suitable ones for two constituencies. BJP, which is hell bent on winning 22 seats out of the possible 28, is not getting the suitable candidate for the old Mysuru area. This issue is mainly present in constituencies where the sitting MPs are from either the Congress or JD (S).
BJP does not have able candidates in Bengaluru Rural, Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar constituencies. So the party is waiting for the alliance of Congress and JD (S) to declare their candidates and then pull the rebels of Congress or JD (S) towards the party.
In Bengaluru Rural, BJP is not getting the proper candidate to contest against D K Suresh of the Congress. Though, Tulasi Munirajugowda, who contested the last Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket from this constituency, is interested, the state BJP leaders are favouring former minister C P Yogeshwar. For the constituencies of Mandya and Hassan, BJP is waiting for the decisions of Sumalatha and former minister A Manju respectively. The responsibility of finding a suitable candidate for Chamarajanagara constituency is given to former central minister Srinivas Prasad.
Congress is facing shortage of winnable candidates in the constituencies of Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru South, Davanagere and Koppal.
Compared to BJP and Congress, it seems JD (S) is more composed. Though, it is not happy that it did not get the Mysuru constituency, which was sought after by JD (S), and is given Uttara Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, which it did not wish to field candidates, the party is satisfied to a large extent by the final outcome of seat sharing. In addition, the party is quiet as CM position is given to the party by Congress in the state assembly elections.
JD (S) has got Udupi-Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada, which it did not wish. In these constituencies, Congress has more support than JD (S). So the party is trying to field able candidates. Though it was thought to field Jayaprakash Hegde, if he does not get ticket from BJP, he is not interested to contest as a JD (S) candidate. In the midst of all confusion, the name of former minister of Congress Vasanth Bangera is being heard to be the probable candidate. His meeting with former PM Deve Gowda has given rise to many speculations. However, Bangera has clarified that he met Deve Gowda for some other reason and not to seek candidature for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. Similarly, in Uttara Kannada, the name of Anand Asnotikar is being heard.
Former central minister Margaret Alva and minister R V Deshpande had expressed their dissatisfaction on giving the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency to JD (S). Home minister M B Patil has expressed his unhappiness with the party leaders for sacrificing Vijayapura constituency to JD (S).
Sitting MP of Tumakuru, Muddahanumegowda has met CLP president of parliament, Mallikarjun Kharge, with his supporters and has expressed his dissatisfaction. It is said that he has pressurized Kharge to retain the Tumakuru seat with Congress itself. K N Rajanna, Congress leaders, who has questioned the decision of the Congress party of giving the Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency to JD (S) has threatened that he will contest as an independent candidate.
In Mandya, former MLA of Congress, Ramesh Bandisiddegowda is already campaigning in favour of Sumalatha Ambareesh, who is all set to contest as an independent candidate.