Ajit Karn
Tuesday, the BJP announced 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections in an effort to achieve a balance in terms of representation of various castes and communities while also fielding “strong candidates” against senior Congress leaders.
In addition to new faces, the BJP has emphasized “social engineering” in its first list of candidates, according to party sources.
Basavaraj Bommai will run for reelection from the Shiggaon constituency.
According to party sources, the list consists of 52 new candidates and 20 incumbent legislators have been removed.
On May 10, 224 seats in the state assembly will be up for election, and on May 13, the votes will be counted.
As the party is perceived to have strong support among Lingayats, it has decided to grant 51 members of the community election tickets. There are 32 candidates from the OBC community, 30 from the Scheduled Castes, and 16 from the Scheduled Tribes on the list. There are eight women candidates on the list. Former IAS and IPS officers, five attorneys, nine physicians, three academics, former government employees, and social activists make up its membership.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is also the BJP’s co-in-charge for Karnataka, characterized the list as a combination of dynamic new personalities and seasoned leaders.
“I am confident that they will collaborate to promote Karnataka’s development. Karnataka will reach new heights of development, progress, and prosperity with the double-engine government, he tweeted.
The minister stated that every segment of society, including the disadvantaged, women, and adolescents, has been provided with opportunities.
“Delighted to see the BJP’s candidate roster for the Karnataka Assembly elections. Following PM @NarendraModi Ji’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,’ every segment of society, including the disadvantaged, women, and youth, has been provided with opportunities. Best regards!” he concluded.
There are no candidates from the Muslim community on the list.
The final candidates for the remaining 35 seats will be selected by Wednesday afternoon, according to party sources.
BY Vijayendra, son of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, will run for the Shikaripura constituency among the party’s prominent candidates.
In Chittapur, the BJP has nominated 28-year-old Manikanta Rathod to run against Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
State Minister B Sriramulu will run for the Bellary Rural constituency, State Health Minister Dr. Sudhakar K will run for the Chikkaballapur seat, and State Minister Dr. Ashwathnarayan CN will run for the Malleshwaram seat.
State Minister R Ashoka will run for Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura. In Kanakapura, he faces Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar.
CT Ravi, general secretary of the BJP, will run from Chikmagalur.
V Somanna will challenge Congress chief Siddharamaiah for the Varuna seat. V Somanna will also run for election in Chamarajanagar.
The strategy of the BJP appears to also exert pressure on senior state Congress leaders in their respective constituencies.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is in charge of the party’s election efforts in Karnataka, and party general secretary Arun Singh announced the candidates at a press conference held here.
Arun Singh said BJP’s graph is expanding under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He stated that the Congress faces “divisions and factionalism” while JD-S is “sinking ship.”
Leaders of the BJP stated that the party conducted an extensive feedback exercise prior to selecting party candidates and expressed confidence in the party’s return to power in the southern state.
Congress has already announced 166 candidates across two separate rosters.
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Senior BJP MLA KS Eshwarappa proclaimed his retirement from electoral politics earlier in the day.
In 2018, the BJP emerged as the largest party in the most recent Assembly elections, winning 104 seats compared to 80 for the Congress and 37 for the JD(S).
The current Karnataka Legislative Assembly will conclude its tenure on May 24.
