Karnataka BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra on Friday said that the party has given him ticket and that he feels blessed to contest the assembly polls from Shikaripur.
“I am blessed to contest from the constituency that my father represented for 40 years. I am happy to contest from Shikaripur. It is a dream come true for me…It’s unfair to say that I’ve been given a ticket as I am BS Yediyurappa’s son,” said Vijayendra. “Today BJP has reached every nook and corner of Karnataka because of BS Yediyurappa and other senior leaders. Today Karnataka is happy with PM Modi’s leadership and double-engine government,” he added.
On Wednesday, senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said that the party was trying to pacify those not happy with the choice of candidates amid rumours of dissent in the ranks following the unveiling of the party’s first list of candidates for the ensuing Karnataka Assembly polls.His remarks followed a series of resignations and retirements by BJP leaders, who were denied tickets to contest the May 10 elections.
Yediyurappa said, “We accept that there are some issues. I am trying to pacify everybody (dissenters). We are trying to put our best foot forward to retain the state. Three are issues as 3-4 people are expected to be fielded from their preferred constituencies. We are trying to pacify and convince them to rally around the party and help us come back to power in Karnataka. This is happening only in a few places. We are in talks with them.”
On Jagadish Shettar, a former Karnataka CM and six-time BJP MLA, who was among the notable absentees from the BJP’s first list of candidates released on Tuesday late evening, Yediyurappa said there was a bright chance of his name featuring in the second list.
“There is a 99 per cent chance that Jagadish Shettar (former Karnataka CM) will get a ticket from Hubli,” he said.On senior party leader KS Eshwarappa’s announcing that he was retiring from electoral politics, Yediyurappa said it was a “voluntary” decision.
“Eshwarappa voluntarily wrote to the party president saying he would work day and night for the party but wasn’t willing to contest. However, there are others who are upset at not finding their names on the list of candidates. We are working to pacify them and unite for the larger cause, which is to help the BJP win Karnataka again. Let’s see what happens,” Yediyurappa said.