Karnataka elections: Unruffled by revolts, BJP banks on 72 first-time candidates

NEW DELHI: BJP has fielded 72 first-time candidates in its bid to effect a "generational shift" in Karnataka and hopes to overcome the challenge posed by rebels, including former CM Jagadish Shettar, who have quit the party and joined its principal opponent, Congress.

Showing no signs of regret after some party seniors switched sides following denial of ticket, BJP has come out in strong defence of the central leadership' move to get a sizeable number of first-timers for the May 10 electoral contest.



As Congress gleefully welcomed Shettar and senior party leader Siddaramaiah called denial of ticket by BJP to the former CM an "insult" to the Lingayat community, the saffron party has planned an aggressive Lingayat outreach campaign with party veteran BS Yeddyurappa, a community icon, as the spearhead.



Before Shettar, another Lingayat leader and former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi had also quit BJP and joined Congress. Senior Lingayat leaders in Congress - former ministers Shamanur Shivashankarappa and M B Patil - persuaded Shettar to join their party.



Shettar's son is married to Shivashankarappa's grand-daughter, another aspect BJP plans to highlight to convince its Lingayat supporters.

"Party cadres across the state are full of energy and excited to see the preference given to the new and young party workers. We have a democratic set-up and opportunities should be shared among the party cadres. The senior leadership had asserted the generational shift in selection of candidates, which will result in a historic mandate in the favour of BJP," said Arun Singh, party general secretary (in-charge of Karnataka).

Complete coverage: Karnataka assembly elections
Asked about celebrations in the Congress camp after Shettar joined the party, Singh said BJP had been generous to Shettar and gave him ample opportunities including as chief minister, state party president and Leader of Opposition.




"Shettar ji was offered responsibility at the Centre including a Rajya Sabha seat. People of the state are watching and won't support a person, who has been self-centric and quit the party for mere denial of a ticket," Singh said and added that the party has fielded state general secretary Mahesh Tenginakai from Hubli-Dharwad Central. Tenginakai hails from Vanijiga sub-caste of the Lingayat community, the same caste to which Shettar belongs.





Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said exit of Jagadish Shettar from BJP would have no adverse impact on the party's prospects in the forthcoming assembly polls.



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