BENGALURU: In an effort to gain a head start over the ruling Congress in the run up to polls to the Legislative Assembly in 2018, leaders of the state unit of BJP are set to commence selection of candidates in the first week of February, immediately after completion of ongoing ‘Parivarthana Yatra’.
According to sources in the party, the rally, which was flagged off by party president Amit Shah on November 2, helped top leaders identify potential candidates in most constituencies.
A survey, however, would be carried out in constituencies where two, three or four aspirants are in the race for the tickets.
These aspirants have been told that tickets would be issued based on the outcome of the survey.
In a couple of segments certain candidates have been tipped off to help them commence campaign well in advance of announcement of the elections. State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa has maintained that the central leadership would decide on candidates for Assembly polls.
Sources close to Mr Yeddyurappa, however, maintained that central leaders would not like to intervene in the process of selection of candidates. It was tactful move on the part of Mr Yeddyurappa to shift the responsibility to Central leadership about selections of candidates and thus avoid the wrath of party cadre if they missed tickets, said sources close to Mr. Yeddyurappa told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr. Yeddyurappa has hinted about probable candidates in Tumakuru, Udupi and north Karnataka districts during the ongoing tour.
Sources said the party would also rope in winnable candidates of Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), even MLAs of both these parties. Wherever the party has a weak support base, leaders have been trying to rope in Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA.
In such constituencies, the BJP has decided to reserve seats for outsiders, sources added.
