Senior BJP Leaders
Laxman Savadi, the party’s senior leader, resigned today after being rejected as a candidate. The BJP’s instability in Karnataka has continued after the party unveiled its initial list of candidates for the election next month.
The leader said, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m not the type to walk around with a begging bowl. I am a politician with integrity. I am not being influenced by anyone”.
According to sources, he is in talks with Congress and may shortly change his mind.
DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief said to the media, “He is neither in touch with me nor has he spoken with me”.
Laxman Savadi is a former Chief Minister’s loyalist and one of the state’s most powerful Lingayat leaders, recognized for his organizational skills.
He was defeated in the 2018 election by Congress candidate Mahesh Kumathahalli.
A year later, when mass defections from the Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition permitted a BJP coup, Laxman Savadi was praised for his role, despite being caught watching porn in the assembly in 2012.
The BJP’s candidate in Athani is Mahesh Kumathahalli, who was among the defectors. Several more defectors have been named as candidates at the expense of present legislators.
The BJP is facing growing anger within its ranks over its candidate selection.
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who was absent from the first list, traveled to Delhi to make his case to the leadership. According to sources, he may return dissatisfied, as the leadership is determined to carry out its decisions.
Mr. Shettar has vowed to run in either direction and has not ruled out running as an independent.
KS Eshwarappa, another senior leader, declared his retirement from electoral politics even before the list was released. According to sources, he had gotten hints that he would be fired.
The BJP released its first list of 189 candidates for the Karnataka election Friday night. Several MLAs have been dropped, and Congress turncoats have been selected. There are up to 52 new applicants on the list.
The party had many meetings before releasing its first slate of candidates for the state’s 224 assembly seats.
According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that the party must abandon tainted, jaded, and adjustment politics. He allegedly stated that the BJP’s candidates must be proof of intent and cannot be a rehash of previous lists, which could cause people to doubt the party’s claims.
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