New Delhi: The heartburn over tickets began for the BJP even after it released its list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.
And once the first 189 names came in Tuesday night, the dam broke.
BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi immediately quit the party Wednesday after not finding his name on the list. A minister in the outgoing Assembly, Laxman is a B.S. Yediyurappa loyalist and a powerful Lingayat leader.
Savadi quit as member of the Legislative Council as well as from the primary membership of the party after being denied a ticket from his Athani constituency. He is a three-time MLA from that seat.
Savadi said: “I have made my decision. I am not the one who goes around with a begging bowl. I am a self-respecting politician. I am not acting under the influence of anyone.”
Savadi, however, had lost Athani in 2018 to the Congress’ Mahesh Kumthalli. Kumthalli, who defected to the BJP in 2019, has been given a ticket for the 2023 elections.
After defection, Kumthalli was re-elected to the Assembly in a 2019 by-election, while Savadi was nominated to the Legislative Council.
The BJP announced 189 candidates of the 224-seat Assembly Wednesday night, packing it with 52 new faces and retaining most defectors who helped topple the former JD(S)-Congress coalition.
The BJP released its first list barely 10 days before the final day for nominations, possibly indicating difficulties in trying to convince people in the party and managing expectations of all sections of state and central leaders, ThePrint reported Tuesday.
Hours before the list came out, two leaders were vocal about being asked to make way for newcomers.
BJP’s Shivamogga MLA K.S. Eshwarappa went quietly, saying Tuesday he would like to withdraw from electoral politics. He wrote to BJP President J.P. Nadda, saying: “The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years, from a booth in charge to the state party chief. I also had the honour of becoming deputy chief minister. Thank you so much.”
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, however, was more critical of the high command’s decision.
“What are my minus points,” the six-time MLA from Hubbali asked the party leadership, requesting them to give him another chance.
Shettar said: “My age is 67 and I am an ex-CM. Every survey has shown that I am popular. In the last six elections, I was elected with the blessings of the Hubbali people… I was continuously elected with a margin of more than 25,000 votes. I have not lost a single term.”
In a byte to reporters, Shettar spelt out his commitment to the party, highlighting how his family had been associated with the BJP since the days of the Jana Sangh.
Meanwhile, BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said Wednesday that there was consensus “in almost all areas” before declaring the 189 names. “Some people disagree (with the list) and a discussion will be held with them. I am in constant contact with them. I have spoken to Laxman Savadi (state vice president) and asked him not to take any hasty decision.”
Bommai added he was talking to the leaders who were upset. “The party respects them and has made them MLAs. Laxman Savadi has a strong connection with me and the party. He said a few things in anger.”
The chief minister also said that Eshwarappa had “not retired from politics”. “He will remain in politics. Seniors have already spoken with him. The second list will come very soon, tomorrow or the day after,” he said.
The BJP had some gains too on Wednesday. Congress leader and daughter of former Speaker Kagodu Thimmmappa, Dr Rajanandini, defected to the party. She joined the party in the presence of former Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa.
Rajanandini said: “I expected they (Congress) would recognise me and give me a ticket, but I didn’t get the opportunity. The BJP has warmly welcomed me and I will work for this party. I am a worker, I can work anywhere,”
Calling her decision “unfortunate”, her father suspected she might have been influenced by BJP leader Hartalu Halappa. “I will try to speak to her. I will always stand in favour of the Congress. I will work for the Congress party,” he said.
Also read: Karnataka polls: Will meet JP Nadda today, expecting positive things, says Jagadish Shettar