Confusion persists over the BJP-JD(S) alliance’s candidate for the ensuing elections to Legislative Council from South Teachers’ constituency with former Minister S.R. Mahesh claiming that the BJP has ceded the seat to JD(S) while E.C. Ningaraju, whose name had been announced as the candidate by the BJP, ruling out the possibility of a review of his candidature by the saffron party.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday, Mr. Mahesh, who is also the Working president of JD(S), claimed that the BJP leadership had decided to allow JD(S) to contest from South Teachers’ constituency even though it had announced Mr Ningaraju as its candidate. The BJP leadership has decided to leave the seat for JD(S) after our leaders – former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda took up the matter with the saffron party, he said.
There were two contenders for the seat in the JD(S) – Vivekananda and former MLC K.T. Srikante Gowda. The party leadership will hold talks with both of them on Wednesday and finalise one of them for the contest, Mr. Mahesh said.
