Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the first list of BJP candidates for the May 10 assembly elections will be released either on Tuesday or Wednesday.
He said there is no confusion regarding finalising the list. “Most probably, the first list will be released tomorrow or the day after tomorrow”.
There is a likelihood of releasing it this evening, but since there are more discussions to happen, it could be released on Tuesday or Wednesday, Bommai told reporters in Delhi.
“For some candidates, more ground report has to be gathered, more information has to be collected, and discussion on the new candidates has to take place,” the Chief Minister said. Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa said the first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for elections to the 224-member Assembly would be released by this evening. However, later in the afternoon, Yediyurappa said: “Yesterday there were discussions about all the constituencies. Today again, our national president, J. P. Nadda, called me for a few more clarifications. I have explained them. He may clear it (the list) this evening or tomorrow”.
The Karnataka BJP strongman denied that there was any delay in releasing the list, saying that discussions had taken place and it would be finalised. When asked whether he was unhappy as he was not present in the morning meeting convened by Nadda, Yediyurappa denied it and said: “Whatever suggestions I had given, they (the BJP leadership) have agreed. We are going to get an absolute majority, and we are going to form the government. There is no doubt about it.” Senior BJP leaders, including those from Karnataka, deliberated for a full day on Monday to choose candidates for the state assembly elections, taking into consideration the recommendations given at the most recent meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J. P. Nadda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, his predecessor B. S. Yediyurappa, and other leaders from the state attended these meetings. Shah later left for Arunchal Pradesh while other leaders continued the deliberations. Bommai had on Sunday said after the CEC meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions. The CM told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs. Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting at Nadda’s residence, Yediyurappa rejected the speculation that he was “unhappy” with the candidate-selection exercise and praised the party leadership. There is a view that the opinion of Yediyurappa, who remains the party’s foremost leader in Karnataka, for various seats is at variance with some other senior leaders. Yediyurappa said the first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for the May 10 elections to the 224-member assembly is expected soon. Noting that the nomination process for the polls begins on April 13, a party leader said there is no hurry to name the candidates, and the BJP will analyse various equations before announcing the names. With the opposition Congress and the JD(S) attacking the ruling BJP over the entry of Gujarat dairy cooperative Amul in the state, Bommai accused them of doing politics over the issue in the poll time. “Nandini is a powerful brand. Our procurement and market have doubled since we came to power,” he said. Nandini is the Karnataka cooperative’s brand.
