All will work for Tejasvi Surya's victory in Bangalore South: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, Mar 27: Amid resentment within the Karnataka BJP on selection of candidates for the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat, state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa Wednesday said party nominee Tejasvi Surya would win and every one will work towards it.
In a surprise move, the BJP has fielded party's youth wing leader Surya from its bastion of Bangalore South from where the widow of union minister Ananth Kumar, a six-time MP from the constituency, was denied the ticket.
However, V Somanna, a party MLA from Govindraj Nagar that falls under Bangalore South, has demanded clarity on how Tejaswini missed the ticket, from Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya, who is Tejasvi Surya's uncle.
"Lot of discussion has happened on this already, it is Delhi's (party high command) decision, everyone has accepted it and have begun their work. Tejasvi will hundred per cent win.
Tejaswini has also expressed her support, there is no need to discuss about it again," Yeddyurappa told reporters when questioned about Tejaswini not getting tickets.
Ending the suspense with just hours left for the deadline for filing of nominations for the first phase of polls in Karnataka, the BJP central leadership had announced the name of 28-year-old Surya, a lawyer.
The BJP's Karnataka unit had proposed only Tejaswini Ananth Kumar's name as candidate from Bangalore South.
Tejaswini was confident about fighting the poll on BJP ticket and had been preparing for it and had started a door-to-door campaign.
Tejasvi filed his nomination on Tuesday, even as Tejaswini's supporters protested his candidacy.
He filed his papers in the absence of several senior BJP MLAs from the constituency including R Ashoka and Somanna.
Terming Tejswini not getting ticket as "unfortunate" and that it should not have happened, Somanna blamed Ravi Subramanya for the "episode", and demanded clarity on what really happened, before involving himself in party work, including campaigning.
He said he along with party legislators and leaders from Bangalore South, including former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka had unanimously proposed her name as candidate, which the state unit also had consented.
"What happened, why it happened is also a big question to me. When Ravi Subramanya called me, I have asked for clarity on what really happened."
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Tejaswini Ananth Kumar at her residence, Somanna, claiming to be loyal soldiers of the party, said "If one is taken for granted, it will be difficult as our future is also involved.
"This has happened, it should not have happened, why it happened we have to know at least in between four walls.
As Ravi Subramanya is at its forefront, I have told him, let's discuss it. Once the discussion happens we will also be relieved to perform our duties."
He said there was no problem in going for campaigning, but they wanted clarity, adding, he could not do something, while keeping something else in mind.
"Let's discuss this with high command, let this happen to no one else," he said while pointing that he came to BJP under Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa.
Another senior BJP legislator Umesh Katti also expressed displeasure about Tejaswini not getting ticket.
"Ananth Kumar built and nurtured the party for the last 40 years and he had given tickets to several people, when he is not there there is discussion about not giving ticket to his family.
I feel that in the days to come party will have something good for them," he said.
Tejaswini, however, has insisted that she remained loyal to the party and she accepted the decision to ensure Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister again.
Bangalore South will go to polls on April 18.
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Cong high command, CM to decide on K'taka Cabinet reshuffle: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said any decision regarding the cabinet reshuffle rests solely with the Congress high command and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
His remarks come as several party legislators step up their demands for a ministerial role.
Defending the MLAs' right to express their desires, the minister said, "It is natural to have aspirations and there is nothing wrong in seeking a minister post. What is wrong in them (MLAs) asking for an opportunity? Whether to give or not is upto the high command to decide... it is the Chief Minister's discretion..."
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the high command will look into these things and decide what needs to be done.
A group of senior Congress legislators, who have served as MLAs for over three terms, called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, urging him to rejig the cabinet and give them an opportunity to serve as Ministers.
The group of about 40 legislators has planned to travel to New Delhi on April 11 after the by-polls, to meet the Congress high command and discuss the induction of at least 20 of them during the reshuffle.
Some first and second-time legislators have also recently pressed for a cabinet reshuffle.
Amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress with speculations about CM change that has intensified after the government completed half way mark in November, a section of Congress MLAs has been pushing for a cabinet rejig for some time, with several aspirants openly expressing their wish to be inducted.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister. Two cabinet berths are currently vacant — following the resignation of B Nagendra over allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the sacking of K N Rajanna from the cabinet on the instructions of the party high command.
Asked whether the Congress faced difficulty in finalising candidates for the April 9 by-polls to Bagalkot and Davangere South Assembly segments, Parameshwara said there was no difficulty, and that the party is evaluating candidates in both constituencies, based on winnability as a criterion.
"The Davangere seat was earlier represented by Shamanur Shivashankarappa, so naturally there is demand for the ticket for his family, also as the minority community population is higher in that segment they too are asking for the ticket. Ultimately, the party will decide. In Bagalkote too, there is a demand that tickets be given to the late MLA Meti's son; there are also other aspirants there seeking tickets. The party will decide," he said.
Based on reports from the local workers about winnability, the party will decide on the candidates, he added.
Bypolls for the Bagalkote and Davanagere South assembly constituencies have been necessitated following the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
To a question regarding AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala's visit to the state, the Home Minister said he is most likely here for discussions regarding the by-polls, and there may also be other matters.
"AICC General Secretary may have come with certain mandates."
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