BJP tasks disqualified MLAS with placating by-poll ticket aspirants

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday declared that the party has decided to give tickets to all 15 Congress and JD(S) disqualified legislators for the upcoming bypolls in the state. While this announcement will come as a relief to the former MLAs who are still awaiting Supreme Court verdict on their disqualification, highly placed sources have told Republic that they have all been encumbered with the responsibility of placating ticket aspirants in their own constituencies. In the run-up to the by-poll dates being announced by the Election Commission of India, many BJP leaders had started vocalising their angst at the former JDS and Congress MLAs being possibly given BJP tickets to fight the bypolls. Many had started pestering BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel as well as CM Yediyurappa pressing for tickets to party loyalists.

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Yediyurappa caught between BJP aspirants and Cong, JD(S) rebel MLAs

Caught in a bind between BJP aspirants and the 17 legislators who were pivotal in bringing down the Kumaraswamy government and in turn installing the BJP government in the state, Yediyurappa had sought the advice of senior party leaders in Delhi. Under immense duress, Yediyurappa had said last week that he is hopeful of a positive result from the Supreme Court against the disqualification. 'The former speaker (Ramesh Kumar) didn’t follow principles of natural justice, so we hope the judgement will be in our favour’. 

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Disqualified MLAs hope for favourable ruling

The former MLAs have been holding several meetings to discuss their future, between themselves and also with Yediyurappa. Speaking after Yediyurappa’s statement, BC Patil, former Hirekerur MLA said, ‘I am happy that the Chief Minister has issued the statement, I welcome it. We are confident that we will get a positive ruling in SC. After that, we will discuss and decide about formally joining BJP’. 

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Disqualified MLAs asked to mollify BJP bypoll aspirants

Many BJP leaders, especially from Belagavi district, are said to be troubled with not getting a ticket to contest bypolls. Alleging that their political future in their constituencies is being endangered, they have been internally revolting to outsiders being given preference over them. Worried that the internal bickering in the party could jeopardise the government, much like the coalition government previously, BJP senior leaders have instructed all 17 MLAs to hold deliberations with the aspirants and irate leaders in each of their constituencies and ensure that they are all mollified ahead of bypolls.

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