S. A. Hemanth
Bengaluru, April 18: BJP’s selection criteria adopted to choose its candidates defies logic and rationality. In fact, it is out and out illogical as well as discriminatory besides being contradictory. It appears that the party has adopted different yardstick while deciding the candidates.
Take for instance its critera of 75-year age ceiling. B. S. Yediyurappa was asked to step down as he had completed 75. However, Govind Karjol who is nearing 80 has been re-nominated as candidate from Mudhol. K. S. Eshwarappa too was told that since he will turn 75 next year, he will not be considered. G.H. Thippa Reddy who will be nearing 75 shortly has been given ticket from Chitradurga.
Take for instance the BJP’s criteria of “not giving tickets to the kith and kin” in the family.
B. Y. Vijayendra is an exception; rather it is imperative as well as inevitable that the Lingayat strongman’s son is accommodated. But Gulbarga MP Arvind Jadhav’s close relative Dr Avinash Jadhav has been accommodated as candidate in Chincholi Reserve Constituency.
Two Jharkiholi brothers – Ramesh and Balachandra – have been given ticket. Hoskote strongman M. T. B. Nagaraj has been given ticket in Hoskote and his close relative Chikka Revanna has been given ticket in Ramdurga in Belagavi district.
The famous Gali Reddy Bellary brothers – Karunakar Reddy and Somashekar Reddy – have been accommodated, one in Bellary and another in Harapanahalli constituency. Umesh Katti’s son Nithin Katti has been given ticket in Hukkeri and his uncle Ramesh Katti has been given ticket in Chikkodi – Sadalga constituency.
So many kith and kin have been given but Eswarappa’s son Kanthesh has not been considered.
The question the party workers are asking among themselves is why Yediyurappa was asked to resign on age factor and why Govind Karjol has been given ticket? Why Somanna’s son was not given ticket if so many brothers can be ticket?
Is it not illogical, irrational, discriminatory and contradictory? No one among the leadership has answered the questions raised by the party workers.
EOM.
