India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
All eyes are on the BJP, which is all set to announce its first list of candidates. While it was being anticipated that the list would come out on Saturday, the party may wait until the parliamentary board meeting is complete, following which the first list may be out on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Karnataka during the weekend and following his return, the list may come out. Contrary to reports, BJP sources tell OneIndia that there is no infighting within the party for tickets. There are aspirants in large numbers, but all are ready to tow the party line, the source also said.
Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Hubbali that there are two to three aspirants for nearly all constituencies. The names would be short-listed by Saturday, he said. He also added that the Congress has no candidates in 60 constituencies and was calling up BJP leaders urging them to join the party.
Over the last four days, there has been hectic activity, with many aspirants meeting B S Yediyurappa and pitching for tickets. There is also heavy lobbying that is on with many aspirants reaching Delhi to make out their case.
For the BJP, the biggest issue while finalising the list is the winnability factor. The source cited above said that it is carefully analysing all candidates before giving them tickets. Sine 1985 no ruling party has been re-elected in Karnataka, thus signalling that the anti-incumbency factor remains in play election-after-election.
A senior leader said that the main factor would be winnability and no chances would be taken. More or less the list would not come as a surprise as many have not been denied a ticket. Changes would be seen in those constituencies from where Yediyurappa, S A Ravindranath and Halady Srinivas contested and this is to with the fact that they have announced their retirement. The seat from where Madal Virupaksha contested from will also witness a change, as he has been arrested in a corruption case. Barring these constituencies, the list will remain same, when compared to the list announced in 2018, the senior leader also said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has a hectic schedule over the weekend. He would arrive in Mysuru on Saturday evening and visit Bandipur, where he would interact with the frontline staff and self help groups involved in conservation activities. He will also visit the Theppakadu Elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and interact with the mahouts of the elephant camp. He would also meet with Bomman-Bellie who were featured in the Oscar winning Netflix documentary, Elephant Whisperers.
