BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa’s on Tuesday had announced that his son BY Vijayendra would not contest polls from Varuna.
Soon after the announcement was made Vijayendra’s supporters began protesting outside the BJP office in Mysuru. Amidst the high drama, a BJP leader from T Narasipura, T Basavaraju submitted his affidavit to contest from Varuna.
The catch - T Basavaraju has not submitted the B-form along with his affidavit. The B-form is an endorsement from the party, which officially approves a candidate.
On Tuesday, BJP’s Karnataka election in-charge, Prakash Javadekar held a meeting with BS Yeddyurappa to discuss the issue.
After the meeting in Mysuru, Yeddyurappa said, “My son will not be contesting from Varuna and another party worker will be given the ticket. Vijayendra will stay in Varuna and campaign on behalf of the chosen candidate.”
Javadekar also announced that BY Vijayendra would be made the working president of the BJP Yuva Morcha.
However, the BJP has not made any official announcement regarding its candidate from Varuna. Saffron party insiders say that BS Yeddyurappa and Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who is also in-charge of the Karnataka elections have differences regarding the Varuna candidate.
“Yeddyurappa’s camp floated the idea of Vijayendra contesting the polls. Vijayendra has not spoken in public about his candidature but began campaigning in the area. There is talk in the anti-Yeddyurappa camp that the party is trying to curtail Yeddyurappa’s power in the state unit. Since most of the candidates fielded are Yeddyurappa’s associates, the last straw was his son contesting too. A power struggle was playing out since yesterday (Monday). The high command will announce the name by the end of the day,” the source said.
Sources in the JD(S) said that the incumbent MLA from Chamundeshwari GT Deve Gowda had approached the BJP and asked for the party's support for his son Hareesh Gowda.
"GT Deve Gowda is up against Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari. He wants his son to contest against Siddaramaiah's son. However, the talks are on and the party will decide before the end of the day (Tuesday)," the source added.