BENGALURU: Alarmed by brewing
dissent
among cadres over the parties joining hands, senior BJP and JD(S) functionaries are toying with a new
strategy
— that of ‘exchanging symbols’.
The top brasses are planning to field a candidate of one party under the symbol of the other. For example, JD(S) wants to field CN Manjunath, leading cardiologist and HD Deve Gowda’s son-inlaw, from a seat in or around Bengaluru as a BJP candidate.
Similarly, talks are on to field senior BJP functionary and former minister V Somanna from Tumkur as the JD(S) candidate.
BJP functionary and former health minister K Sudhakar could also contest under the JD(S) symbol, while the option of fielding JD(S) functionary Sa Ra Mahesh as the BJP candidate from Mysore is being discussed.
“It is a new way of thinking,” said Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP spokesperson and MLC. “The idea is to foster a sense of belongingness about candidates among cadres of both parties. While winnability will be the main criterion, the high command will take the final call.”
HD Kumaraswamy, state JD(S) president, said more clarity is expected next week when the parties hold a final round of deliberations on the first list of candidates.
“We are exploring all possible options,” said Kumaraswamy. “There is a suggestion to field Manjunath as the BJP candidate and efforts are on to convince him. Similarly, we will sit across the table to decide on Sa Ra Mahesh’s candidacy from Mysore.”
But Manjunath said he is still undecided on contesting. “People from across India are urging me to contest as they want me to be an MP. If I take the plunge, my role would be service-oriented rather than pure politics,” he said.
The strategy is not without problems. While Manjunath is being considered for the Bangalore Rural seat, his supporters are keen on him contesting from city seats like Bangalore North or South, which are relatively safe. In such a case, BJP must vacate one of its sitting MPs.
Former minister JC Madhuswamy is resisting the proposal to spare the Tumkur seat for Somanna. In Chikkaballapur, senior Congress functionary NS Shivashankar Reddy is planning to move to BJP which could lead to friction with Sudhakar.
Forced ‘defections’
Under the new ‘
symbol exchange
’ plan, aspirants are preparing to quit their parent party and join the other party. But not all are in favour of the strategy.
Ashwath Narayan Gowda, BJP chief spokesperson, who was defeated from Bangalore Rural seat and is aspiring to contest again, said: “How cadres accept this remains to be seen. Changing the party for the sake of a ticket may not be well received by grassrootlevel workers. Our high command will take a decision in the best interest of the party.”
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