Political tensions have surged within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka following the Congress party's candidate announcement for the upcoming West Graduates' Constituency election. The move has triggered intense internal lobbying, with a significant faction of party leaders openly challenging the potential renomination of the sitting BJP MLC, SV Sankanur.
A Collective Push for Change
In a coordinated effort, as many as 16 ticket aspirants within the BJP have united to pressure the party's state and central leadership. This group, which includes several prominent names apart from Sankanur, has begun holding meetings with senior leaders to present their case. Their core demand is clear: the party should field a candidate with a stronger organisational and ideological background, someone who has risen through the party's ranks and has been consistently active in its programmes, rather than automatically extending the ticket to the incumbent.
Key Leaders in the Fray
The list of aspirants vying for the BJP ticket is extensive and includes several senior figures. Notable names are BJP state disciplinary committee chairman Lingaraj Patil, senior leader Jayateertha Katti, Veeresh Sanglad, Kiran Uppar, Rajanna Koravi, Dr Mahesh Nalwad, Ravi Dandin, Suddhindra Deshpande, and Bojaraj Karudi. This collective approach marks a significant show of internal resistance against Sankanur, who has represented the West Graduates' Constituency twice as a BJP MLC.
Lingaraj Patil, one of the aspirants, emphasized his three decades of service to the party and expressed confidence that his name would be considered this time. He confirmed that aspirants had approached party leaders as a group to voice their concerns.
Appeals to the High Command
The dissenting group has already held discussions with key decision-makers, including BJP state President BY Vijayendra and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Jayateertha Katti, a senior BJP leader, stated that aspirants with solid party backgrounds recently approached all major party leaders, formally requesting the consideration of a candidate from within the party or its affiliated organisations for the crucial graduates' constituency election.
With the election atmosphere intensifying and rival parties finalizing their strategies, the BJP's decision on the West Graduates' Constituency ticket is poised to become a major internal issue. The continued lobbying and competing claims highlight the growing rift within the party ranks in Karnataka, setting the stage for a contentious selection process in the days ahead.
