Karnataka elections: BJP list put off again, BS Yediyurappa makes a sudden return to Bengaluru

The party leaders have been discussing the candidate list since Saturday evening in Delhi, with one of the reasons for the delay cited back home being Yediyurappa’s insistence on tickets for as many as 30 of his candidates, with the promise to ensure victories of each.

One of these candidates is most definitely his younger son B Y Vijayendra, who Yediyurappa has been keen on fielding from the family pocket borough of Shikaripura. Forced out as CM by the BJP, ostensibly due to his age, Yediyurappa had announced in July 2022 that he was retiring from electoral politics and that Vijayendra would replace him in the Shikaripura seat in Shivamogga district.

The move was seen as a preemptive strike by Yediyurappa against rejection of his son’s candidature by the BJP, which is keen to loosen the grip the veteran has held on the party in Karnataka for nearly 20 years.

Amit Shah, on arriving at Yediyurappa’s house in Bengaluru, insists on receiving the first bouquet from Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra amid controversy over Vijayendra’s candidature for upcoming #Karnataka polls.

More updates here. https://t.co/atHkhWcFHE pic.twitter.com/0kSnwxA4R4

— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) March 24, 2023

“If Yediyurappa is unhappy and has left in anger, it would be linked to rejection of his son’s ticket demands more than anything else,” BJP sources admitted.

Joshi, who was part of the talks, denied any such problems. “Yediyurappa gave suggestions regarding candidates but had to leave for Bengaluru due to exigencies. After that, we held extensive discussions under the leadership of the party president (J P Nadda). The list is in the final stages of preparation. Since the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) is not in Delhi today, we will hold consultations with him, the national president and the PM and, with their permission, the first list will be released,” he said Monday night.

Bommai, who is also in Delhi, said Yediyurappa had participated in all the meetings, including with Nadda and Shah, over the past three days. “He was part of the CEC (Central Election Committee) and parliamentary board meetings with the PM… He expressed his full views on certain issues,” the CM said, adding that Nadda would take these into account. “Everything has been done under his (Yediyurappa) leadership and taking him into confidence.”

Earlier, there were reports that the BJP wanted Vijayendra to contest from Varuna seat in Mysuru, the bastion of former CM and Congress heavyweight Siddaramaiah, and hence a difficult constituency. Yediyurappa publicly rejected the possibility of this last week, while indicating that in case Vijayendra was forced to accept Varuna, he expected a ticket from another constituency too for him.

Back from Delhi, Yediyurappa insisted he was not unhappy with how the talks had gone. “I am very, very happy. All the suggestions given by me have been accepted. I am sure we will get a full majority on the basis of the seat selection.”

Monday’s postponement means the BJP is uncharacteristically the last in deciding its candidates. The Congress has announced names for 166 of the 224 seats, while the JD(S) has declared 93.

Bommai and Joshi indicated that the list would be out Tuesday. “We have discussed all the 224 seats in detail and, after these discussions, some clarifications and inputs were sought. We have provided these inputs as well,” Joshi said.

“There is no confusion. We will be releasing a big list of candidates. We want to be very, very cautious. Our national leaders are looking at it in a very in-depth manner and things could change at the last minute,” he said.

Joshi added that there was no inordinate delay and that the BJP normally announces candidates “one or two days prior to the date of filing nominations”. “Here the date is April 13. We will announce it tomorrow at any cost.”

The Union minister said the BJP had also charted out a campaign road map, covering which all national leaders would campaign, and where.

Bommai, who repeated that he would stand from his existing Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district, said the party had set certain rules regarding candidates. “To win a positive mandate, we keep our policies and programmes at the forefront, and as a result, we are analysing the work done in their respective constituencies by our MLAs,” he said.

There has been speculation that dozens of MLAs could be replaced by this yardstick.