Discontent in BJP over poll tickets, JDS hunts for winnable candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections 2023 has left many leaders and sitting MLAs miffed as they hoped to earn a party ticket.

The party declared candidates for 189 constituencies out of the total 224, and the list includes 52 new faces. At least nine legislators including Ministers Angara (Sullia) and Anand Singh (Vijayanagara), have not been given the ticket.

In yet another blow to BJP, six-time MLA from the Sulia Assembly constituency, S Angara announced his decision to resign from the active politics after the party denied him ticket. Earlier in the day, former deputy CM, Laxma Savadi indicated his decision to quit the BJP after being denied the Athani seat.

However, the discontent within the saffron party has brought cheers to the JD(S) camp, which is hoping those denied tickets by the two national parties may knock on its doors.

Speaking about the BJP's first candidate list, JDS has said that the BJP has given tickets to people with a criminal background and the party tops the list in selecting history sheeters.

It must be noted that several rejected politicians have already switched over and joined the JD(S) party. Former Congress MLC Raghu Achar, who was eyeing the Chitradurga seat recently joined JD(S) after he was overlooked.

"There are around 30 functionaries from Congress and BJP who are in touch with us. We will soon reveal their names," said JD(S) MLC TA Saravana was quoted as saying by TOI.

JDS in the hunt for winnable candidates?

The regional party also hopes that it may get a handful of formidable candidates to contest outside its stronghold of the Old Mysuru region. It is imperative to note here that JD(S) has so far announced its first list of candidates comprising 93 names for the assembly polls. The constituencies mainly covered are from the Old Mysuru region.

The Old Mysuru region has 89 Assembly seats including Bengaluru and is spread across 11 districts in South Karnataka - Mysuru, Hassan, Mandya, Chamarajnagar and Kolar. In this region, the Vokkaligas, who form a critical part of the voting pattern in the State, by and large favour the JDS.

However, the regional party is now facing a shortage of winnable candidates in over 100 seats in coastal, Kittur, Malnad and Kalyan Karnataka regions.

Voting for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will take place on May 10, and results will be declared on May 13.