Bengaluru: State BJP president, B.S.Yeddyurappa on Tuesday advised his party's sitting MPs to get started on their elections work in their respective constituencies as they were likely to be fielded once again this coming Lok Sabha poll.
The BJP currently has 15 sitting MPs with the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha seat falling vacant following the death of Union Minister Ananth Kumar. Despite the anti-incumbency factor dogging some of its MPs, the BJP has decided to take a chance on them this poll, according to party sources.
Some MPs like Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Udupi- Chikamagaluru MP, Shobha Karandlaje, Mysuru MP, Prathap Simha, and Huballi-Dharwad MP, Pralhad Joshi are not on good terms with even their own party's local leaders and workers. In fact, the party's lower rung leaders have launched a campaign on social media against Mr Kateel and Ms Karandlaje. But the latter brushes off this off, claiming that senior leader, K.Jayaprakasha Hegde, who is himself keen on contesting from Udupi-Chickmagalur, is behind the campaign.
Also, denying there was any real opposition to the MPs, Mr Yeddyurappa claimed the Modi wave in the state would help the party win over 22 Lok Sabha seats this poll.
While it has already decided to field Ms Tejashwini Ananthkumar from Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency in place of her late husband, the party is considering fielding former minister, B.N. Bache Gowda from Chikaballapura, and senior leader, D.S. Veeraiah from Kolar, according to sources. And although Mr G.S. Basavaraju is keen on contesting from Tumakuru, he is reportedly facing opposition from local BJP leaders.
