Conflict in BJP over Jayanagar candidate

Bengaluru: Following the sudden death of BJP nominee from Jayanagar constituency B.N. Vijaykumar, the Assembly elections in the constituency were postponed to June 11. But the BJP is yet to choose a candidate for the polls as there are many contenders within the party.

While the BJP is favouring Vijaykumar’s brother Prahlad Babu for the ticket, former Mayor S.K. Nataraj, former councillor C.K. Ramamurthy and Byrasanra councillor N. Nagaraju are trying to convince party leaders to give one of them the ticket. Former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok will finalise the candidate. A meeting to decide on the matter was planned on Monday but was later postponed. The meeting will be held based on the availability of Union Minister Ananth Kumar.

Nataraj said that the party leadership had promised the ticket to Prahlad Babu without consulting the councillors. “This is unjust, as we know the ground reality and have been the face of the party. Babu has not worked even for a single day for the party,” he said. He also added that the councillors will not work for the victory of the candidate if Babu is given the ticket. The other candidates in the constituency are Soumya Reddy from the Congress and Independent candidate Ravikrishna Reddy.