Bengaluru, Apr 23 (PTI) BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka in charge Radha Mohan Das Agrawal on Thursday said there has been no discussion on fielding JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda for the Rajya Sabha election.
He also ruled out any opposition within the BJP regarding Gowda’s candidature.
The former PM was elected to the Rajya Sabha on June 26, 2020 and his term is set to end in June this year.
It is learnt that the BJP’s ally JD(S) is keen on the nonagenarian’s re-election to the Rajya Sabha.
“No, there has been no opposition from the BJP. The local BJP does not take decisions on such matters. I am the in-charge here, so I know. This decision is taken by the central government, by the central unit, by the national BJP. As of now, no specific discussion has taken place in this regard, and no discussion has happened on any particular name,” Agrawal, who is a Rajya Sabha member, told reporters here.
Asked whether Gowda has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election to the upper house of Parliament, he said, “Gowda is a very grounded and experienced leader, who meets Modi frequently as they have a very good relationship.” “That (good relationship) is a separate matter. When the meeting regarding the Rajya Sabha seat takes place, our organisation will take a collective decision—that is a different issue,” Agrawal clarified.
When reporters pointed to the discussion happening regarding former Chief Minister and BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa, the BJP general secretary said he (Yediyurappa) is not just a senior leader of the party but of the entire Karnataka.
“Under Yediyurappa’s leadership, we formed the government for the first time in 2008. So, we organise many programmes in his honour and in his memory. Even at this age, he attends every meeting like an ordinary worker and devotes his full time. The party is grateful to him,” Agrawal said.
On the MLC elections in the state, he said a meeting of all state-level and district-level office-bearers of the BJP was held.
“From today we are beginning the preparations for the elections of Shashil Namoshi from the North East Teachers’ Constituency, S V Sankanura from the West Graduates’ Constituency, and K M Suresh from the South East Graduates’ Constituency. These are our officially authorised candidates, and all three will win by historic margins,” he claimed.
To a question on revoking the expulsion of Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Agrawal said there is no such demand.
“I have no such information. The party has expelled him for six years. The party can take a decision earlier as well, but no such process is currently underway. As far as I know, there is no such process,” the BJP general secretary said.
When reporters reminded him that Yatnal had canvassed for the BJP candidate during the recent assembly bypolls, Agrawal said in a by-election, every citizen has the right to campaign in support of a candidate if they wish.
“How can we reject any citizen who votes for the BJP or works for it? Entry into or exit from a party is not decided on that basis. Once action is taken by the party—we had clearly said at the time of expulsion that he has been removed for six years,” the Rajya Sabha member said. PTI GMS GMS ROH
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