Mangaluru: A day after a section of local media reported the probable candidate likely to contest on BJP ticket from Dakshina Kannada, district BJP leader and former MLC Monappa Bhandary said that the names of the candidates would be announced after it is finalised by BJP National President Amit Shah.
“The party will duly announce the list of official candidates and not any media”, he said, indirectly hinting at the names doing the rounds on few online media sections.
Addressing a press meet at BJP district office here on April 13, Monappa Bhandary said Amit Shah would announce the official list of candidates within two days. The party has strictly asked the contenders to abide by the party principles and work for the candidates decided by the party. “If any aspirant is found seeking publicity (to be projected as a candidate), strict disciplinary action would be taken against them,” he
warned.
Further, he alleged that Congress party was trying to create confusion among the people since it feared losing the elections.
Responding to a query, Bhandary also said that there was no confusion in the BJP and that the party would give ticket to “winnable” candidates in entire Karnataka.
Regarding former BJP leader Shrikar Prabhu contesting in the elections as an independent, Monappa Bhandary said that his decision to contest the election would not affect the BJP. “Shrikar Prabhu had been suspended from the party. There is no question of taking him back into the party fold till the suspension term is complete. Decision to contest election independently is left upto him. The Indian Constitution has guaranteed this right to all individuals”, he said.
He added that the BJP Mahila Morcha would complete its first round of campaign, “Mane-Mana-Kamala Kamala” on Saturday, April 14 (tomorrow). This campaign had commenced on April 6. Hence tomorrow BJP party workers from all the cadres will join this campaign, he disclosed.
BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Mijar, Kishore Rai, Nithin Kumar and Sathish Prabhu were present during the press meet.
Contenders in the fray as reported by media
With veteran BJP leader and former MLA Yogish Bhat deciding not to contest the polls this time around from Mangaluru South Assembly constituency, names of aspiring candidates-Brijesh Chowta, D Vedhavyasa Kamath and Badrinath Kamath cropped up as the probable contenders who are likely to get a ticket to contest polls against Congress’s sitting MLA J R Lobo in the upcoming elections.
While it is gathered that BJP South President D Vedhavyasa Kamath has the support of an influential BJP leader from Dakshina Kannada and Sangh Parivar leaders, the other two contenders-State Industries Cell Assistant Convener Badrinath Kamath and BJP District General Secretary Brijesh Chowta are said to be backed by a state leader. The two are said to be putting their best efforts to get party ticket.
