Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra vs BS Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra: This was a fight that had received much media attention. But now, after all the speculation around it, it seems the fight may not happen at all.
BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa told an audience in Mysuru on Monday, 23 April, that his son won’t be the contestant from Varuna constituency in the district, and instead, a local party functionary would get the ticket.
The announcement was met with dismay from his followers, who started flinging chairs at the venue.
Vijayendra’s followers began shouting slogans against BJP national President Amit Shah and the Karnataka election-in charge Ananth Kumar.
"Down down Amit Shah," the protestors yelled.
I am not unhappy. We decided that my son won’t contest from Varuna. Vijayendra worked hard on this seat. He will now campaign in many seats in this area. The BJP has many father-son combinations, but we have fielded another candidate and that person will win.BS Yeddyurappa told NDTV.
BJP sources, however, said they were surprised at Yeddyurappa’s decision as no one in the party were really opposed to Vijayendra’s candidature. Though there were other senior aspirants from the same seat, it had been a given that Vijayendra would contest elections.
One source said that this could still be a battle of one-upmanship between Yeddyurappa and the high command.
No one had opposed the ticket. Maybe the high command didn’t want more sons contesting, and gauging the mood Yeddyurappa went ahead with his own announcement.A source told TNM
The BJP that released its fourth list of candidates on Monday, has still not made it clear who its candidates in Badami and Varuna will be.
Some believe that Vijayendra may eventually end up on the list.
(The story was originally published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
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