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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Teen dies in car stunt accident in Kerala, driver held
Thrissur (Kerala) (PTI): A man was arrested on Monday after a 14-year-old boy was killed when a car overturned during a stunt-driving incident at Chamakala Rajiv Road beach in Chentrappinni here, police said.
The arrested accused was identified as Shajeer alias Saddam (36), a native of Kurikkuzhi in Kaipamangalam.
According to police, the incident occurred around 6 pm on Sunday when the accused allegedly performed dangerous drifting manoeuvres with an open-top Gypsy vehicle at the beach, without following any safety norms.
The accused picked up three minors — Mohammed Sinan (14), Mohammed Shafeer (14) and Ameer (12) — who were playing at the beach, and made them sit at the rear of the vehicle before driving recklessly.
While performing the drifting stunt, the vehicle went out of control and overturned, trapping Sinan underneath.
He suffered severe head injuries and succumbed to the impact, police said.
Based on a complaint, Kaipamangalam police registered a case under Section 105 (culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
After completing the preliminary probe, police arrested Shajeer on Monday.
He was later produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody, police said.
The accused is involved in 11 criminal cases.
