The ruling BJP in Karnataka will release its first list of 140 to 150 candidates for the May 5 election to the Legislative Assembly.
Party state unit General Secretary Raghunathrao Malkapure told reporters
that unlike other parties, BJP faced no rebellion or protests while selecting the party candidates and only those with a ‘clean’ image have been alloted tickets.
Congress, which is sensing victory in the coming polls, is facing severe trouble in selection of candidates as thousands of aspirants are seeking tickets and the lobbying turned violent today when a hopeful’s supporters tried to barge into KPCC office resulting in police resorting to lathi charge.
Caught in severe jolting, a 48-year-old worker collapsed and died due to heart attack.
“We faced no such problems. We took the opinion of grass root level leaders from Mandal and divisional levels and the state election committee prepared the list and it has been endorsed by the Central leadership,” he said.
Mr Malkapure, referring to the Congress worker’s death, accused the Congress leaders of ‘sacrificing’ workers for their selfish ends.
“The leaders were responsible for his death. They did not care about the welfare of their followers,” he accused.
The BJP leader said the party would not give tickets to anyone against whom criminal charges were proved.
“But allegations and conviction are two different matters,” he said when pointed out that several BJP leaders faced corruption and criminal charges.
When asked why the party eased out former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa though none of charges against him were proved yet, Mr Malkapure said the Central leadership was “fully convinced” that the former chief minister was involved in serious acts of inappropriation.
He said the party’s ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ taken out across the state had been a good success and the culminating event will be held in the city on April 8 when top leaders including party President
Ranjath Singh will attend.
