The tussle between top BJP leaders, the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and the former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, over getting party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore North has ended in favour of Mr. Sadananda Gowda.
Sources in the party said that Mr. Sadananda Gowda was almost certain to get ticket from Bangalore North.
The political balance is learnt to have tilted in favour of Mr. Sadananda Gowda at a meeting of the State party’s core committee and leaders from Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency on Monday as part of the process of selection of candidates.
“Mr. Sadananda Gowda’s chances of getting ticket from Bangalore North are bright now.
This is because his main contender, Mr. Ashok, has withdrawn himself from the contest and there are no other senior leaders in the race to upstage the former Chief Minister,” a prominent BJP leader told The Hindu.
However, the party is yet to declare him candidate for this seat as several other formalities would have to be completed.
Concern
The competition between Mr. Sadananda Gowda and Mr. Ashok had caused concern in the party as both of them had issued media statements criticising each other.
Following this, there were suggestions that Mr. Sadananda Gowda should consider contesting from other Lok Sabha seats, including Mysore.
However, Mr. Sadananda Gowda is believed to have told the party leaders that he would not contest in any constituency other than Bangalore North.
Meanwhile, efforts to get BSR Congress, led by the former Minister B. Sriramulu, to merge with the BJP are delayed as the party’s central unit is said to be having reservations in the wake of Mr. Sriramulu’s close association with the former Minister G. Janardhan Reddy.
“The ball is in the court of central leaders,” the sources said.
