BJP to apply Guj formula in K'taka in 2023 polls

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: A lot wiser after the overwhelming victory in the Gujarat polls, the BJP high command is said to have asked the Karnataka unit to prepare a list of young and enterprising candidates in several constituencies in order to give 'retirement' to senior legislators and field new faces in their place in the 2023 Assembly polls.

Highly placed sources told News Trail that Delhi leaders want to try the Gujarat model where several senior legislators including former CMs were rested and young faces fielded. In Karnataka, the high command is planning to rest former CMs Jagadish Shettar and B.S.Yediyurappa, former minister K.S.Eshwarappa, Tippareddy, Araga Jnanendra, Suresh Kumar and Govind Karjol among others.

It is said that Eshwarappa and Yediyurappa have agreed to the proposal provided their children are given tickets. The party is contemplating fielding Mohan Tenginkai in place of Shettar who is however insisting on one more term.

The high command has promised the post of governor to Shettar and Yediyurappa if they agree to vacate the seats. The biggest hitch is that while Yediyurappa and Shettar belong to the Lingayat community, Eshwarappa belongs to the Kuruba community which may object to this move.