Bangalore: As expected the return of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has already changed political equations not only in BJP, but also in the state politics. Yeddyurappa, who returned after 13 months, has started asserting his authority over the party.
He has asked the party high command to field candidates with a strong chance of winning. According to the people close to him, he has asked the central leadership to deny ticket to at least 8-10 sitting MPs from Karnataka. Currently, the BJP has 18 MPs from the state.
Yeddyurappa himself is not very keen on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from his hometown Shimoga but party workers are forcing him to contest from there. His elder son BY Raghavendra is the BJP MP from Shimoga.
According to some sources, he may even contest from Tumkur with a sizeable Lingayat population. His family members are advising him to take the Rajya Sabha route instead.
A reliable source claims that Yeddyurappa has prepared a 'hit list', which has the names of the MPs to be dropped from the candidates list, this time. Yeddyurappa is opposing the candidature of sitting MPs PC Mohan from Bangalore Central, DB Chandre Gowda from Bangalore North, Janardhana Swamy from Chitradurga, Prahlad Joshi from Dharwad, Ramesh Jigajinagi from Bijapaur, PC Gaddigowdar from Bagalkote, Shivaramana Gowda from Koppal, Ananthkumar Hegde from Uttara Kannada and Suresh Angadi from Belgaum.
He feels that the BJP should field new faces to retain these seats. He has also asked the central leadership to conduct an independent survey before finalising the list.
His close confidante Shobha Karandlaje is keen on contesting from Bangalore North. There are rumours that she may even contest from Mysore-Kodagu. Hoping that the BJP will come to power at the Centre, at least half a dozen top leaders of the party are trying for Lok Sabha tickets.
Former deputy chief minister and sitting MLA R Ashoka is keen on contesting from Bangalore North. Former CM DV Sadananda Gowda is also trying for the same seat. Former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa is also demanding the BJP ticket from Koppal.
Yeddyurappa re-entry has enthused the party cadre. But, the growing popularity of the AAP in urban areas has also rattled the party leadership.
The BJP is likely to come out with its first list on January 20.
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