BJP leader defends party's stand on Gujarat election

Gulbarga, Nov 24 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar today strongly defended the issue of party tickets to a large number of fresh candidates in the coming Gujarat Assembly elections.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Kumar, who is also MP, said the decision to nominate more number of fresh candidates in the ensuing polls was aimed to ward-off anti-incumbancy factor, if any.

Mr Kumar said the party had finalised over 171 candidates, including 25 women contestants, and hoped the BJP would retain its power.

He said the sentre was likely to dissolve the Assembly in Karnataka and a notification may be issued after the proclamation of Centre's rule was ratified by both the Houses of Parliament.

He denied former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's allegation that BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa had asked for Rs five crore to join the Janata Dal(S).

UNI